Uefa Champions League last 16: PSG marginal favourites over Chelsea with John Terry fitness in doubt

The Parisiens will have an edge as they become even more dominant domestically, while their English rivals have slumped, writes Ian Hawkey.

David Luiz, the world's most expensive defender, scored had scored a decisive goal that eliminated his former club Chelsea in the Uefa Champions League last season. Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP

The lowdown

A lot has changed since the champions of France edged out the soon-to-be-champions of England on away goals this time last season. PSG have become even more dominant domestically while Chelsea have slumped. The Parisiens crossed a psychological rubicon by defeating Chelsea in the last-16 stage, even after having Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off early in the second leg, and are under some pressure from their Qatari owners to build on that and make at least the semi-finals.

PSG They finished second in a group headed by Real Madrid, who took four points off the French side though were slightly fortunate to do so. The French club won home and away against Shaktar Donetsk and Malmo in the group, raking up 12 goals in those four matches.

Chelsea Their dreadful start to their defence of the Premier League title coincided with some wobbles in Europe, where they lost to Porto and drew with Dynamo Kiev, but they emerged on top of their group, contributing to Porto's surprise elimination, before manager Jose Mourinho was dismissed in December.

David Luiz, PSG – PSG made him the world's most expensive defender when they paid Chelsea close to €70 million (Dh291.4m) for him in 2014. He then scored a decisive goal against his old club to help eliminate the London club from last year's Uefa Champions League.

PSG Are France's finest just flat-track bullies? PSG's domination of Ligue 1 is almost surreal, so vast is their advantage at the top, so long is it since they lost to compatriot opposition. But like their totem, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their domestic achievements are not matched by a long list of European club honours. They need their lavish spending to show a better dividend in the very late stages of the Champions League.

Chelsea They have registered some improvement since Guus Hiddink, a former winner of the European Cup as a coach, took over as interim coach following the sacking of Mourinho. But they will struggle to finish in the Premier League's top four, which means their only chance of being in next season's Champions League is by winning this one.

Verdict

PSG to go through, with a slightly more comfortable margin of victory than the away-goals, extra-time drama of the 2015/16 meeting between the two clubs.

ALSO READ:

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport