Skip to content

PSG v Chelsea preview: John Terry out of Champions League clash

A countdown to kick off is shown on the scoreboard prior to the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at Parc des Princes

Chelsea travel to Paris to face Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League without John Terry, who has been ruled out with a minor hamstring injury.

Guus Hiddink's unbeaten run during his second spell as Chelsea manager will come under threat from Laurent Blanc's PSG, who are unbeaten in 23 matches in all competitions.

Terry had to be substituted during the first half at Stamford Bridge
Image: Terry had to be substituted during the first half at Stamford Bridge

Blanc's side were on a run of 16 straight wins before a much-changed side were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Lille at the weekend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Motta and captain Thiago Silva were all rested as PSG extended their unbeaten league run to 35 games.

Chelsea and PSG met at the same last-16 stage of last season's competition and they could not be separated in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, with Branislav Ivanovic's opener cancelled out by Edinson Cavani's second-half strike.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

There's heightened security for Chelsea's last-16 Champions League tie with PSG. Sky Sports News HQ reporter Gerain Hughes is in France with more.

In the second leg at Stamford Bridge, the 10 men of PSG, who had Ibrahimovic sent off, eventually reached the quarter-finals on away goals following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

They also met at the quarter-final stage in 2014 when Demba Ba's late goal in the second leg handed Chelsea a 2-0 win as they reached the semi-finals on away goals following PSG's 3-1 first-leg victory.

David Luiz of PSG will return to face former club Chelsea in the Champions League again
Image: PSG defender David Luiz will face his former club

Team news

Also See:

For the first leg, PSG will be without full-back Serge Aurier, who has been suspended by the club after a video emerged online in which he allegedly directed homophobic slurs at a number of club figures.

Midfielder Marco Verratti returned at the weekend after two weeks out injured, but Blanc has revealed it would be a risk to start the Italian.

Terry has not travelled to France after injuring a hamstring in Chelsea's 5-1 victory over Newcastle at the weekend.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc talks to defender Serge Aurier
Image: Serge Aurier (left) will not feature against Chelsea after being suspended by PSG

Oscar has travelled after missing Saturday's defeat of Newcastle, where Terry was forced off before half-time. January signing Alexandre Pato is not available as he is not yet match fit.

Midfielder Nemanja Matic is suspended, defender Kurt Zouma is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, so new signing Matt Miazga and academy defender Jake Clarke-Salter have been included in the squad.

Opta stats

Paris Saint-Germain have won one of their six Champions League games against Chelsea (3-1 at home in April 2014), drawing three and losing two.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar celebrates
Image: Chelsea midfielder Oscar has travelled with the squad

Meanwhile, four of Chelsea's last five away games in the Champions League knockout stages have ended in draws (L1).

The Ligue 1 club have lost only one of their last 37 home games in European competition (W24 D12), that was against Barcelona in April 2015 (1-3).

Chelsea's only away win against a French side in the Champions League came in September 2004 when they beat PSG at the Parc des Princes (3-0). The Blues have also drawn two and lost four.

Cesc Fabregas celebrates with Chelsea team-mate Pedro at Stamford Bridge
Image: Chelsea ran out 5-1 winners over Newcastle at the weekend

PSG are winless in their last five Champions League games played in the knockout stages (D2 L3).

Blanc's team are the only side, alongside Juventus and Real Madrid, yet to concede a goal at home in the Champions League this season.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Guus Hiddink discussed John Terry's injury at his pre-match press conference on Monday

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored seven goals in 36 Champions League knockout games. In the group stages, he has found the net 38 times in 79 games.

There have been eight goals scored from direct free-kicks in the Champions League this season, four of them by Willian.

Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R)
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) is set to return for PSG after being rested

Betting

Chelsea are Sky Bet's 9/2 outsiders for their trip to the French capital, with PSG 4/6 to establish a first-leg lead while a third successive draw between these sides is priced at 13/5.

FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-CHELSEA
Image: This will be the third straight time Chelsea and PSG have met in the knockout stages

The Ligue 1 runaway leaders are also marginal favourites to quality for the quarter-finals as Guus Hiddink's men are priced at 5/4 to progress, while they're significantly shorter odds in the Champions League outright at 12/1 to their visitors' price of 22/1.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic heads the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 while Diego Costa is rated Chelsea's main threat at 15/2. The Spain international is enhanced from 13/2 to 8/1 to score in a Blues win in Sky Bet's pre-match Price Boosts.

Around Sky