PSG vs. Chelsea: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Paris Saint-Germain play host to Premier League leaders Chelsea at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening, in a repeat of last season’s Champions League quarter-final. The English side advanced on away goals last season, and the Parisians will be hoping to change their fortunes and advance from the last 16 this year.

Date: Tuesday, February 17

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT (8:45 p.m. CET)/2:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris

TV Info: Fox Soccer (U.S.), ITV (UK)

Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S.)

Julian Finney/Getty Images

PSG’s downfall last season was conceding a sloppy goal at the Parc des Princes. If Laurent Blanc’s side can keep a clean sheet on Tuesday, they will have a great chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, but that is easier said than done.

Chelsea’s 0-0 draw away at Sunderland in November is the only time Jose Mourinho’s side has failed to score in any game this season. It will take a phenomenal performance from PSG to keep Chelsea at bay.

Pre-match ideas didn’t go according to plan for PSG on Saturday. They lost two late goals to Caen and let their two-goal lead slip. To rub salt in the wounds, they finished the game with nine men and a whole host of injury problems.

Even at their very best this season, PSG have still leaked goals. Against Barcelona in the group stage, the team put on a memorable display but were still lucky to come out with a 3-2 win.

Eden Hazard was quiet over the two legs last season, and the Belgian superstar will be keen to show French viewers just how good he has become since leaving Lille. The PSG defence will need to be at their inspired best to stop Hazard and his teammates. 

PSG	Chelsea
D. 2-2 vs. Caen	W. 1-0 vs. Everton
W. 2-0 vs. Nantes (Coupe de France)	W. 2-1 vs. Aston Villa
D. 1-1 vs. Lyon	D. 1-1 vs. Manchester City
W. 1-0 vs. Lille OSC (Coupe de la Ligue)	W. 5-0 vs. Swansea City
W. 1-0 vs. Stade Rennais	W. 2-0 vs. Newcastle United

Predicted Formations

PSG: 4-3-3: Salvatore Sirigu; Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell; Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti; Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Chelsea: 4-3-3: Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Kurt Zouma, Cesar Azpilicueta – Nemanja Matic, Ramires – Willian, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard – Diego Costa

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Player to Watch: Paris Saint-Germain

The pressure is starting to build on Edinson Cavani this season, and with their Champions League future finally balanced, the striker needs to start providing on the big stage.

His away performance against Chelsea last season was just short of abysmal, and this is a great chance to show the whole of Europe that he is still a striker to be feared.

With the spotlight pointing toward Ibrahimovic, this is the Uruguayan’s chance to shine.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Player to Watch: Chelsea

Jose Mourinho admitted that the fact that Diego Costa has not played for three weeks was not ideal preparation, but PSG and Blanc’s defence will still need to show the Spanish striker full respect.

The former Atletico Madrid striker has scored 17 goals in just 19 Premier League games, but he has yet to find the net in the Champions League this season. Sooner or later, someone is going to feel the wrath of the burly striker.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Key Battle

Last year, Hazard was up against Christophe Jallet. It always favoured the Chelsea winger but he failed to take advantage. On Tuesday, the Belgian winger should be up against Brazilian defender Marquinhos, and it will provide one of the most interesting battles.

The defender had to come off at half-time against Caen, but he took part in a full training session on Monday. Dutchman Gregory van der Wiel may offer PSG more width and help in attack, but Marquinhos has proved an excellent option at right-back and has made the French side a lot tighter in defence.

Whoever gets the best of that matchup could prove crucial on Tuesday night.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

PSG: 8/5

Draw: 11/5

Chelsea: 9/5