Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. Diego Costa: Breaking Down the PSG-Chelsea Striker Battle
There's a problem for the marketing men ahead of Chelsea's big meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League this week.
Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are going to be two big reasons why many fans will tune in and watch the game, only the strikers aren't quite living up to their billing right now.
Suspensions have taken their toll on Costa's form—he's only scored once since Jan. 17's brace against Swansea City.
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His first game back from a three-game suspension came against PSG in the first leg of this fixture three weeks ago and ahead of that game his manager Jose Mourinho explained he was concerned the Spanish international would be lacking match sharpness.
Costa's been his usual nuisance up front since that time, yet the goals haven't been forthcoming. He was particularly wasteful against West Ham United last week, too, implying Mourinho's concerns were correct.
And it's the same for Ibrahimovic, who has scored just once from open play in his last 10 outings.
They're hardly stats that will capture the imagination, especially in the Champions League—a stage made for the biggest names on the biggest nights of the season.
It means that, despite their considerable profile, the anticipation of the pair coming head-to-head once more isn't as mouthwatering a prospect.
At the Parc des Pricnes three weeks ago, both Ibrahimovic and Costa had quiet games. That night it was about the defences coming out on top in a game that was tight and one of few chances.
Indeed, so much was the impact of Chelsea's back line, Branislav Ivanovic scored the opener for his side after John Terry had crossed for Gary Cahill to flick the ball into his path.
Can we expect much of the same at Stamford Bridge? Probably.
When we reach this stage of the Champions League, it's rare the big clubs are willing to go toe-to-toe and slug it out. There's too much at risk, especially for Mourinho and Laurent Blanc, who will stop at nothing to avoid early elimination from the competition.
Despite what they're achieving domestically, their respective owners will not be overly impressed.
This is going to be a tetchy affair and that means deep defensive lines and even tighter midfields. It's not going to be a game cut out for strikers to be stealing the show.
It's exactly how Chelsea played it in Paris.
Cahill and Terry were eager that night to prevent Ibrahimovic from exposing space in behind them, so they sat deep and gave the Swede very little opportunities.
There was a moment at the death when he forced Thibaut Courtois into a good save with a header, yet outside of that, it wasn't the same Ibrahimovic we have known.
He was forced to drop into midfield to pick up possession, trying to bring himself into the action. Despite being at home this time out, Chelsea will have no issue doing the same thing again if it means Ibrahimovic has a quiet night against them once more.
When we're looking at form over the course of the season, if one striker is to come out on top at Stamford Bridge, the safe bet would be to back Costa.
For all the headlines he has made with injuries and suspensions hampering his campaign, he's made equally as much with the goals he has scored—all 18 of them if we're including his deflected goal in the Capital One Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, which has since been disputed.
Ibrahimovic has suffered the same problems as Costa, only he doesn't look as sharp as his counterpart. Whether it's playing in Ligue 1 or a simple case of age creeping up on him, he has lacked that spark that makes him the player he is.
His skill remains, yet even against Chelsea in the first leg, there seemed to be something missing and it was left to those around him to make things happen, notably the much-maligned Edinson Cavani, who scored that precious equaliser to leave this game on a knife's edge.
Interestingly, however, Costa is yet to find the net in Europe this term, whereas Ibrahimovic does have two goals, so he can claim a marginal advantage in that regard.
So who will steal the show at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday? It seems like folly to suggest it, but don't be surprised when it isn't Costa or Ibrahimovic.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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