When Chelsea host Paris Saint-Germain tonight, the Blues have a mountain to climb to overturn the 3-1 defeat from the first leg in Paris.
Jose Mourinho’s side had been able to keep up with the French champions in the first half, but conceded two goals after half-time - to Mourinho's dissatisfaction the 3-1 late in injury-time.
The Portuguese had slammed his side’s defending as ‘ridiculous’, but is hopeful the Blues can come back into the tie.
Chelsea have a splendid home-record under Mourinho, having lost only two out of their last 21 Champions League games at Stamford Bridge (W14 D5 L2). In addition, they have won their last six games in all competitions without conceding a goal.
However, in the first leg against PSG they conceded more goals than in their previous seven Champions League games together.
They will miss Ramires through suspension, whilst Nemanja Matic as well as Mohamed Salah are both ineligible in the competition.
Mourinho had started a striker-less formation in Paris, and hopes that Samuel Eto’o will win his fitness battle after his hamstring injury to return to the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, PSG boss, Laurent Blanc, also misses his main striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after the club’s top-scorer picked up a hamstring injury in the first leg.
PSG have only lost one of their last 17 Champions League games (W12 D4 L1) and have scored in each of them, netting at least twice in 13 of these games.
Laurent Blanc’s side have picked up 11 straight wins in all competitions and are close to wrapping up another French title.
Apart from Ibrahimovic, PSG can play their strongest starting XI with Edinson Cavani certain to start as their leading striker.
Paris Saint-Germain have not lost any of their last seven matches in the knockout stages of the Champions League and could make their first appearance in the semi-finals since 1995.
I’m expecting the Blues to go all out and try to overturn the two-goal deficit, but PSG’s strike options should be strong enough to score at least one goal – my prediction 2-1 Chelsea.
What are your predictions, can Chelsea come back against PSG? Have your say in the comment section below.
