Premier League leaders Chelsea play Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in the Uefa Champions League last-16 on Tuesday. Let’s take a look at some of the talking points.
FRENCH FRUSTRATION FOR BLUES
Demba Ba’s name continues to be sung by Chelsea supporters, but for his heroics against Liverpool, rather than the last-gasp winner which earned the Blues victory over PSG on away goals in last season’s quarter-finals.
Chelsea had lost 3-1 in Paris and have just one win and four losses in six matches away to Ligue 1 opposition. That solitary victory came against PSG in September 2004 in Jose Mourinho’s first Champions League match in charge of the Blues, with two goals from Didier Drogba and one from John Terry, both of whom could be involved on Tuesday.
It was also PSG’s solitary loss at home to English clubs in five games.
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BREAKING THROUGH
PSG are aiming for a third successive appearance in the quarter-finals and are determined to advance beyond that point to join Europe’s elite.
The 2012 winners Chelsea are already members of that club and looking to reach the last eight for the seventh time in nine campaigns.
Mourinho has reached the semi-finals for four straight seasons (three with Real Madrid and last season with Chelsea) and is bidding to become the first coach to win the competition with a third club (after Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010).
HAZARD AT HOME
Eden Hazard’s penalty in the 3-1 loss in Paris was vital in Chelsea’s success last term, but the Belgium playmaker was happy to flirt with his admirers after PSG scarcely disguised their interest in recruiting him, wearing the Parisiens’ shirt.
That appears a slim and distant prospect after Hazard recently signed a new deal committing him to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2021, reward for some scintillating displays under Mourinho.
he Blues boss wants Hazard to prove he is among the world’s best. Where better to start than to show PSG what they could have bought?
THE REAL DAVID LUIZ
One Chelsea player who did swap London for the French capital was David Luiz. Capable of brilliance, but also prone to the odd costly mistake, the Brazilian never really fitted in under Mourinho.
The £50million fee, recouped before the World Cup and a world record for a defender, looked like stunning business for Chelsea when Luiz floundered for Brazil last summer.
It also helped finance Chelsea’s recruitment of key players such as Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas. Others to represent both clubs are Alex, Claude Makelele, Nicolas Anelka and Mateja Kezman.
RETURN OF DIEGO COSTA
Costa, Chelsea’s top scorer, may be straining at the leash to play after a three-match domestic suspension which left Mourinho fuming and in full under siege mode.
The combative Brazil-born Spain striker, who is still to score in European competition for the Blues, would likely relish playing against Luiz, who has been known to snap on occasion.
There’s also an intriguing battle at the other end between Terry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
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