Hello and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s back — Chelsea are in Paris for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash against PSG.
PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 has gone to a whole new level this season; they have 70 points from 26 games, that’s just eight points dropped to date in layman’s terms (all draws). And they lead second-placed Monaco by 24 points, meaning their nearest rivals are actually closer to the relegation zone.
English teams are usually strong favourites when up against French opposition but when you consider Chelsea’s dismal domestic season to date, that sees them sit 12th in the table, and the absence of John Terry and Kurt Zouma tonight, it’s hard to be too optimistic.
Tonight’s game is live on TV3 and BT Sport Europe. Kick-off, as always, is at 7.45pm.
Here are tonight’s teams:
Tonight’s other last-16 game between Benfica and Zenit is on Setanta Ireland too.
So, to clarify that team news. Ivanovic and Cahill are in the heart of the Chelsea defence.
Guus Hiddink is also without the suspended Nemanja Matic for tonight’s clash in Paris.
Get your predictions in.
It’s shaping up nicely anyway, you’d expect a few goals tonight.
That PSG bench looks like it could do some serious damage and all. This could be a tough night for Chelsea fans.
Just under five minutes until kick-off, make yourself comfortable.
This is the stuff that helps us get through these mid-week, dark nights.
Mark Lawrenson (TV3) or Michael Owen (BT), not exactly an embarrassment of commentary riches tonight.
Hopefully the football will do the talking.
We’re under way in Paris.
Oh Zlatan, the Swede looks in fine touch. Some typical, classy flicks and clever link play from the big man. Chelsea chasing shadows.
PSG are all over Chelsea early doors. The atmosphere is electric and Hiddink’s side look to be on edge already.
Courtois has already parried a Verrati effort from long range and Lucas Moura has also fired one wide. Chelsea need to settle, soon.
Cracking start for the neutrals though.
Lucas has been the star performer on the pitch. His pace is causing Chelsea serious problems.
Ibrahimovic wins a debatable free-kick from a Willian challenge but his effort from 25 yards curls over and wide.
Right on cue, they’ve just had their best spell of possession. Fabregas, in particular, was moving it well.
But Pedro gave it away cheaply and a long ball to Lucas causes panic in the Chelsea defence. But Cahill deals with it well in the end.
Great start to this, the Champions League is hard to beat.
Deliveries over the top, to feet, one-twos – they are all causing Chelsea problems.
They’ll need to start defending better if they want this counter-attacking game-plan to keep them in this two-legged tie.
WHAT A SAVE by Trapp.
Costa should have scored after he had a free header in the area following a lovely Chelsea move. But Trapp gets a strong hand to Costa’s effort and it ricochets wide off the bar. Great ball in by Rahman.
Chelsea are really starting to play their way into this now. Willian, Hazard and Fabregas starting to see a bit more of it.
Fabregas is starting to set the tempo in this. He’s becoming the dominant midfield player on the pitch.
This is end-to-end stuff. Hazard has a shot on goal blocked at one end and only moments later Di Maria fires one wide at the other.
It looked like William caught an arm in the face in the middle of all that. The tackles are flying in with venom now too.
GREAT CHANCE — But Ibrahimovic makes a mess of it. Beaut of a cross from Marquinhos leaves the Swede with a free header six yards out but he mis-times it and directs it into the ground and over the bar.
It looks like there are plenty of goals in this one.
PSG 1 Chelsea 0 (Ibrahimovic ’39)
Just when you start to doubt him…
A lot of fortune involved in that one though.
A free-kick from the Swede on the edge of the area is fired in low and catches Mikel on the edge of the wall. The ball spins into the far corner, as a helpless and grounded Courtois can only watch it hit the net.
PSG 1 Chelsea 1 (Mikel ’45)
HT: PSG 1 Chelsea 1
Wow, what a finish to that half of football. Chelsea pressed hard for the final few minutes. And they were rewarded with a corner.
The delivery was flicked on by Costa and Mikel controlled it beautifully with the inside of his legs before burying it on the half-volley on the stroke of half-time.
Great goal from Mikel, just his sixth goal in 10 years at the club.
So Mikel gave away the free-kick for the PSG goal, deflected in Zlatan’s effort and then scored the equaliser. Busy man.
We’re back under way in Paris.
That first-half had eveything; it ebbed and flowed and somehow we came out level. Chelsea, of course, will be the happier with the away goal in their back pocket. Hard to call how this second period will unfold.
By the way, it’s all square (0-0) in tonight’s other last 16 clash between Benfica and Zenit St Petersburg.
This has begun in the same vein, end to end stuff. Thrilling attacking football from both sides, cracking game.
Some delicious football being played, although some of the defending is leaving a lot to be desired. Plenty of ball-watching and drops in concentration by both sides.
This time Di Maria is played in beyond a yawning Pedro but his cross is well blocked by Cahill.
GREAT STOP by Courtois. It may have been going over but the big Belgian wasn’t taking any chances with Di Maria’s long-range effort.
That came on the back of a brilliant break Willian, he sprinted the guts of 60m before leaving it on a plate for Costa. His striker just had to dink it over Trapp but his effort is saved by the PSG goalkeeper’s legs.
Willian is such a joy to watch at full flight.
PSG having plenty of joy down their left-hand side. Maxwell and Di Maria are linking up well and causing Chelsea all sorts of problems.
It’s Courtois, this time, who comes to Chelsea’s rescue as he bravely slides out to smother Maxwell after he was played in by Di Maria.
Maxwell and Zlatan, I make it four clubs (Ajax, Inter, Barca and PSG) they have played at together, there can’t be too many other professional footballers who have done that?
Courtois again called into action, from Lucas this time. The Belgian has been very busy for the last few minutes as PSG have asserted their dominance once again.
Oscar is coming on for Hazard.
Courtois makes another save, this time from a Di Maria free-kick. It’s getting hard to keep up!
Cavani on for Lucas now too. Plenty of drama to come in this one yet. Pastore also still on the bench for PSG.
This is still end-to-end.
Oscar is nearly in following a long ball.
Chelsea have had their best spell of the second half in recent minutes too. When they’re on song watching them pass it about is a thing of beauty.
Beautiful goal by the substitute. Di Maria with a delicious left-footed ball over the top and Cavani buries it through Courtois’s legs on the half-volley from a fairly tight angle on the right.
Great change by Blanc, even better finish by Cavani. Heart-breaking for Chelsea just as they were getting back into it.
Verrati and Matuidi are being replaced by Pastore and Kurzawa.
PSG 2 Chelsea 1 (Cavani ’78)
What a game this has been, in the final seconds now.
FT: PSG 2 Chelsea 1
It’s all over in Paris. Chelsea will probably be the happier side.
The away goal gives them hope for the second leg, they could have been much further behind to be fair, considering how much of the ball the home side had.
Thanks for joining us for tonight’s liveblog.
Report and reaction to follow.