How Twitter Reacted to Paris Saint-Germain's Action-Packed Triumph over Chelsea

The last time Chelsea welcomed Paris Saint-Germain to Stamford Bridge for a Champions League knockout round, the Blues needed to score two goals to progress. On this occasion, Chelsea did not need to score, but many were still tipping the Parisians to progress:    

"

John Giles and Didi Hamann have both said PSG will go through tonight 

— Brian (@Brianzy24) March 11, 2015"

"

I think Chelsea-PSG is gonna be a 1-1 draw tonight again. Extra time, Costa will miss a sitter, goes to pens, PSG go through.

— Joe (@Coutskill) March 11, 2015"

It turned out that those folks were on to something.

When the team sheets were released before kick-off, it was revealed that Ramires was starting ahead of Willian. Many Chelsea fans seemed displeased with this change, and accordingly, both players were trending on Twitter:

"

When Ramires starts pic.twitter.com/8YEtVCpkhP

— lmao (@ahmedlmao) March 11, 2015"

Seeing as Chelsea didn't need to score goal at the Bridge, there was also the inevitable onslaught of "parking the bus" tweets:

In light of the public transport-based events in Paris, Chelsea were keen to promote #Equality, putting it on their matchday programme and on a large banner in the stands:

"

Fans Chelsea "We are all blue #Equality" pic.twitter.com/vwOImngvlP

— Bolanesia (@Bolanesia_ID) March 11, 2015"

Naturally, this was ripe for parody:

"

Chelsea banner: "We are all blue #Equality" .... Except for on trains. pic.twitter.com/QT0AdD29hC

— Footy Memes (@FootyMemes) March 11, 2015"

David Luiz—making his return to Stamford Bridge—was put back in central defence, despite his impressive midfield display in the first leg. Within the first 10 minutes, it was quite clear that the Brazilian international was going to be engaged in an epic battle with the man who shunned his native land for Spain—Diego Costa:

"

https://t.co/lRTB7epWIL RT @GianlucaNesci: David Luiz vs. Diego Costa in a fight to the death.

— Zach Woosley (@Ginge) March 11, 2015"

"

Keep messing with David Luiz's head Costa. He can't handle it.

— B (@JonesyB13) March 11, 2015"

However, it soon became apparent that Costa and Luiz were not the most likely men to throw punches at Stamford Bridge:

At the half-hour mark, however, a non-Clarkson-related act of violence was committed. Paris Saint-Germain were devastated to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off for what appeared to be a relatively innocuous challenge with Eden Hazard:

"

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been sent off for a straight red card. https://t.co/vuB2zVGdUf

— BPL Zone (@BPLZone) March 11, 2015"

Approximately zero percent of Twitter users believed the referee made the right choice:

"

Referee will be running away from Zlatan after the game like https://t.co/9aToQtt4O2

— GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) March 11, 2015"

"

Drogba what do you think of Zlatan's red? pic.twitter.com/wssIIAfogC

— Doble V (@PossessionStats) March 11, 2015"

The incident caused the phrase "Never a Red" to trend:

In the 39th minute, Luiz—who had been welcomed with cheers of appreciation by the home fans at the start of the game—tangled with Costa once again, appearing to elbow the striker in the face:

"

That elbow from Daivd Luiz was nasty

— CarefreeYouth (@CarefreeYouth) March 11, 2015"

Two minutes later, Diego Costa was brought down from behind in the penalty area. It seemed like a clear spot-kick decision, but the referee failed to award it:

"

That being said. Costa was fouled THREE TIMES in the box in the same play and no pen given.

— Chel6ix (@ChelsInThe6) March 11, 2015"

Chelsea retired to the dressing rooms for half-time feeling cheated by the penalty decision and Luiz's elbow infraction but ultimately lucky to benefit from the unjust removal of The Mighty Zlatan:

During half-time, Marco Verratti was also trending, thanks in part to his rather physical performance:

As the second half started, Jamie Carragher was also trending in response to comments he made about Chelsea players haranguing the referee as Zlatan was dismissed: 

Co-commentator Gary Neville received pelters for similar reasons:

In the 58th minute, Edinson Cavani was presented with a golden opportunity to put PSG in the driving seat, but the woodwork managed to save Chelsea's graces:

"

How bad was the defending for that Cavani chance though... Literally cut open through the middle and one pass out wide.

— TweetChelseaFC (@TweetChelseaFC) March 11, 2015"

In the last 20 minutes, kerfuffles were breaking out all over the field. The Luiz vs. Costa battle reemerged when the PSG man appeared to try and get his opposite number sent off following a tackle on Maxwell:

"

This game is a disgrace. Both PSG and Chelsea. What was David Luiz doing trying to get Costa sent off a minute ago?

— Louis Chilman (@louischilman) March 11, 2015"

The deadlock was finally broken in the 81st minute, when Gary Cahill was on the receiving end of a Costa mishit:

"

Gol del Chelsea, Cahill 1-0 https://t.co/4SRAdibeEX

— Ale Padín (@alepadin) March 11, 2015"

The Blues, however, were only able to hold onto the lead for four minutes. Of course, it was their former calamitous defender who bagged the equaliser:

"

David luiz still have keys of Chelsea bus!

— Football Trolls (@Footballltrolls) March 11, 2015"

Luiz's header brought the game to extra time, but not before the referee missed yet another controversial incident, when a frustrated Costa shoved Marquinhos to the ground:

"

And you're telling me not one of the assistant referees didn't spot Costa pushing Marquinhos to ground?

— Jay (@DoublePivot) March 11, 2015"

In the sixth minute of extra time, the Blues were awarded a penalty when Thiago Silva handled in the area. You would have bet your house on Hazard converting it, and he did:

Silva's baffling error brought with it an inevitable slew of memes:

"

Thiago Silva thinking he's playing for Miami Heat pic.twitter.com/CjtENqr3Zh

— Erik (@BelgianMaestro) March 11, 2015"

"

Thiago Silva wants to be Odell Beckham so bad pic.twitter.com/eG5GcCMtJI

— Ruiz ✍ (@AL3XRU1Z) March 11, 2015"

"

Thiago Silva like... #CFC #PSG #CFCPSG #CFCvPSG #CFCLive pic.twitter.com/U7p7JLpMsa

— Roy (@PapaBeats) March 11, 2015"

"

PSG players looking at Thiago Silva like... pic.twitter.com/Tjgz15sCxk

— Football Tips (@footballtips) March 11, 2015"

A crazy game took another crazy turn in the 24th minute of extra time, when PSG scored a vital away goal that would put them through. It came from the head of the man who conceded the penalty at the other end:

"

Le but de Thiago Silva !! 2-2 ! https://t.co/8e02XlEn7j

— 11footballclub (@11footballclub) March 11, 2015"

And so, Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League, just as many had predicted at the outset. Against the odds, the heroes of the evening were these two precocious chaps: 

PSG ended the evening with a positive message, which might not have been shared by Chelsea fans who watched one of their worst performances of the season:

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