Zlatan Ibrahimovic Fires PSG Past Chelsea to Keep Champions League Hopes Alive

Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday as goals from Adrien Rabiot and Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

Ibrahimovic was hardly the only PSG man worthy of credit for his side's victory in the round of 16, but the imposing Swede was certainly the star, sealing progression in the second leg with an assist in addition to his well-taken strike.

At 34, Ibrahimovic might understandably see the current season as his last good opportunity to claim the Champions League crown, and if so, his chances could be much worse. But while Wednesday's performance suggested he's capable of guiding his side to the trophy, manager Laurent Blanc will retain a few concerns as the Ligue 1 giants move forward in this competition.

Both of PSG's goals had Zlatan's fingerprints all over them. In the 16th minute, the veteran striker ran on to a pass down the right and, with Chelsea's Gary Cahill late to cover, fired a low cross toward the back post, where Rabiot tapped in. 

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

It was a crucial moment in the tie, establishing a two-goal lead for PSG on aggregate and requiring Chelsea to score twice just to force extra time. The hosts responded with a strike of their own 11 minutes later, but Ibrahimovic's second critical involvement settled the tie midway through the second half.

The scoring sequence started as Thiago Motta picked out Angel Di Maria with an incisive pass to the left flank in the 67th minute. Spotting his teammate's run, Di Maria picked out Ibrahimovic with an inch-perfect cross that the Swede slammed into the back of the net with a perfectly executed volley.

Most of the credit should go to Di Maria for the cross, but Ibrahimovic made the right run to put himself in the perfect position at the ideal moment. His finish was clinical and Blanc simply could not have asked for more from his star striker in that crucial moment.

Speaking to UEFA.com after the match, Ibrahimovic said: "It was a good game. We had a lot of pressure, but also the ball. We scored twice from a handful of opportunities. We can’t stop now. We'll keep giving our best and try to win all our games in the last two months of the season."

It's that last part that's so intriguing at the moment. The right team advanced from this round-of-16 tie, but the question remains: Can PSG win the Champions League?

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Doing so would represent the crowning achievement of the Qatar Sports Investments' project following that group's 2011 takeover. And to PSG's credit, the notion does not feel unthinkable. The current side certainly appears more complete than recent editions, with loads of star power across the pitch. 

On BBC Sport, former Arsenal star Martin Keown tipped the runaway Ligue 1 leaders as Champions League dark horses, saying: "Any team in Europe will want to avoid PSG, even Barcelona."

However, while Blanc's team can play with Europe's best on any given day, some concerns remain. Diego Costa proved a nuisance throughout his time on the pitch and exposed some defensive frailties with a well-taken goal in the 27th minute. While Thiago Silva is a top defender, the unit as a whole does not match him.

In addition, PSG took too many chances with ill-advised passes in midfield, overcomplicating matters one too many times before Costa pounced. Without the injured Marco Verratti, the French side might not be able to match Europe's elite in the middle of the pitch.

As with any knockout competition, PSG's fate might come down to the draw. But with a still-brilliant Ibrahimovic in their ranks, the French champions have a legitimate shot at glory this spring.

Follow @MiguelCominguez