Chelsea vs PSG Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups, Key Man + Predicted Score

Chelsea welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Stamford Bridge tonight for the crucial second leg of their Champions League quarter final clash.

The Blues will have to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit to reach the last four after a late Javier Pastore strike put PSG in control heading into tonight’s decisive return leg.

The third goal was a huge blow to Chelsea but they will still be quietly confident of turning things around on home soil, as they boast a formidable record at the Bridge both domestically and in European competition.

Jose Mourinho has openly admitted he expects his side to progress this evening but an away goal would leave the west Londoners needing to score three to force extra time, so keeping the visitors out will be vital.

That could be difficult as the Ligue 1 champions have scored in 17 of their last 19 European games and have a wealth of attacking talent on offer to coach Laurent Blanc, even with star striker  Zlatan Ibrahimovic unavailable.

PSG won their last eleven consecutive games to wrap up the defence of their Ligue 1 title, so will be confident of finishing the job in Europe tonight to reach their first Champions League semi final since 1995.

Team News

Chelsea are ready to risk striker Samuel Eto’o despite the Cameroonian not being 100% fit following a hamstring injury that’s kept him out of their last three fixtures.

Fernando Torres has struggled to make an impact in recent weeks and was left out in the first leg in favour of Andre Shurrle, so the Spaniard is likely to be among the subs again this evening.

Ramires is suspended so Frank Lampard could start in midfield alongside David Luiz, who’s expected to deputise for the ineligible Nemanja Matic. Mohamed Salah will also be unavailable having previously played for FC Basel but youngster Marco van Ginkel might make the bench after recovering from a serious knee injury.

PSG will have to make do without key striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he limped out of the first leg with a hamstring problem last week. Edinson Cavani is expected to fill in up front with Lucas Moura likely to come in on the right.

Full-back Gregory van der Wiel is pushing for a recall after making his return to the first team at the weekend following a lengthy injury absence, but Blanc may decide this is too big a game to risk him in just yet.

Likely Line-Ups

Key Man

Eden Hazard: Chelsea are going to need to score at least twice to have a chance of progressing tonight so Mourinho will be looking to his Belgian super-star for some inspiration in the final third.

Predicted Score

Chelsea 2-0 PSG: Despite PSG’s attacking prowess, if there is one manager who will be able to master-mind a comeback such as this, it’s Mourinho. I can see him being able to shut-out the visitors attack and picking them off on the break or at set-pieces to claim a famous victory on the away goals rule.

What team would like you to see Mourinho select and what’s your predicted score? Share your views below.