Overview
- Paris progressed 5-4 on aggregate after a 2-2 home draw followed a 3-2 away win, with the second leg swinging on Mamadou Coulibaly’s dismissal before goals from Marquinhos (60') and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (66') and a late reply by Jordan Teze.
- The draw sets up a two-leg tie on 10/11 and 17/18 March, with the return match at Stamford Bridge.
- French media and pundits criticized PSG’s performance, pointing to a flat first half, dependence on the red card, and a nervy finish.
- PSG has already conceded 15 goals in this European campaign, fueling concerns that the back line is more brittle than last season.
- Chelsea executive David Barnard called it a tough two-leg encounter against a big opponent and referenced recent meetings, including last summer’s Club World Cup final.