PSG v Chelsea preview: Diego Costa back from ban as Blues travel to Paris for Champions League last-16 first leg
Tuesday 17 February 2015 19:16, UK
Chelsea travel to PSG on Tuesday night for their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie in a repeat of last season's quarter-final clash and have Diego Costa back in their ranks.
Jose Mourinho’s side will be hoping for a better result in the French capital - despite coming back to win the tie on away goals after a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, they lost the first leg 3-1 at the Parc de Princes.
A year on and looking stronger domestically, Chelsea came through their group unbeaten with four wins and two draws, while PSG lost just once, finishing two points behind Barcelona in Group F.
Laurent Blanc’s side are currently third in Ligue 1, two short of leaders Lyon, and could only draw 2-2 with Caen in Paris on Saturday, conceding twice in the last two minutes.
Chelsea will be up against former defender David Luiz, who signed from the west London club for £50million in the summer, and have Diego Costa back from a three-game domestic ban for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can last month.
Team news
Mourinho confirmed during Monday's press conference that Costa will start on his return from suspension against PSG.
Midfielder John Obi Mikel (knee) is out, but Oscar is back in contention after missing the Premier League leaders' defeat of Everton with a minor problem.
However the Chelsea boss has decisions to make in goal, with Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois in contention, and central defence, where Kurt Zouma could continue ahead of Gary Cahill.
Blanc confirmed on Monday that Lucas Moura, Yohan Cabaye and Serge Aurier will all miss the clash after coming off in the draw with Caen.
However, Brazilian defender Marquinhos, who was also inured on Saturday, was named in the squad along with fellow injury doubts Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta after coming through training on Monday afternoon.
UEFA Champions League Highlights
Stats
PSG are unbeaten in their last 32 home games in European competition (W22 D10), the longest ever run for a French club. Their last defeat was against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the group stages of the UEFA Cup back in November 2006.
PSG have scored in each of their last 18 home games in European competition. BATE Borisov were the last team to keep a clean sheet at the Parc des Princes, in February 2011.
Chelsea are one of three teams still unbeaten in this season’s Champions League, alongside Porto and Real Madrid.
Chelsea scored more goals than any other team in this season’s Champions League group stages (17).
Didier Drogba has scored five goals in seven competitive games against PSG with Guingamp, Marseille and Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho has only lost one of his 15 Champions League games against French clubs (W11 D3).
Betting
PSG were priced up as favourites initially, but Chelsea have attracted the early money in the betting, forcing Sky Bet to go 17/10 apiece for a win and 21/10 for a draw. Chelsea are 4/9 to get through to the quarter-finals, with PSG available at 7/4, while the pair are priced up at 7/1 and 25/1 respectively in the outright odds.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 4/1 favourite to score first, 8/1 to score from outside the penalty area and 12/1 to score a header. However, Jose Mourinho can call upon his own talisman Diego Costa again and the Spain international is 5/2 to score in an away win, while it’s 7/2 for both he and Ibrahimovic to bag.
Keep up to date with Chelsea's trip to PSG on our live blog and on Soccer Special on Sky Sports News HQ, before watching highlights on Sky Sports 5HD from 11pm on Tuesday. Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich is live from 7.30pm on Sky Sports 1HD.
