PSG 5-2 Chelsea: Champions League holders take control in Paris

Paris St-Germain showed they will not give up their grip on the Champions League trophy without a fight as they came through a brilliant end-to-end game with Chelsea to take control of their last-16 tie.

PSG are laden with attacking talent and substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s brilliant late double could prove decisive.

Bradley Barcola thumped Luis Enrique’s side ahead but Chelsea rallied well to level through defender Malo Gusto.

Ousmane Dembele twisted Wesley Fofana to restore the lead but again, Chelsea responded when Enzo Fernandez smashed in after a swift counter.

A mistake from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen allowed Vitinha to brilliantly lob in a third and then Kvaratskhelia curled in a wonderful fourth with four minutes remaining.

Chelsea should have shut up shop but were caught on the break again as the Georgian slammed in a fifth in added time to complete a wretched midweek for Premier League sides in Europe.

Another goalkeeping error hurts

The lapse from Jorgensen proved the turning point after Chelsea appeared on course to escape with a valuable draw. Jorgensen’s careless pass was intercepted by Barcola, who fed substitute Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian squared for Vitinha to chip over the helpless goalkeeper.

Chelsea visibly crumbled, unable to recover mentally from the setback. Kvaratskhelia curled home a stunning fourth moments later before slotting in a stoppage-time tap-in as PSG ruthlessly punished their visitors.

Chelsea deserve credit for their ambition in taking the game to the European champions, but ultimately their naivety cost them dearly.

Liam Rosenior’s side were too casual in dealing with PSG’s attacking threats, allowing Dembele and Barcola excessive space. They failed to compete aggressively for loose balls and were repeatedly caught out by quick transitions, leaving them dangerously exposed.

These defensive lapses will almost certainly prove fatal when the tie resumes at Stamford Bridge next week. Yet Chelsea did expose frailties in PSG’s backline – Barcola was woefully at fault for Gusto’s equaliser – offering a glimmer of hope that the holders remain beatable.

The Champions League draw

The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals is:

Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea v Galatasaray or Liverpool

Real Madrid or Manchester City v Atalanta or Bayern Munich

Newcastle or Barcelona v Atletico Madrid or Tottenham

Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP v Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal

The draw for the Champions League semi-finals is:

Silver path: PSG/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool v Real Madrid/Manchester City/Atalanta/Bayern Munich

Blue path: Newcastle/Barcelona/Atlético Madrid/Tottenham v Bodo/Sporting CP/Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal