PSG vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

PSG and Chelsea go head-to-head in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in a decade this week. 

The defending champions are out for revenge after the Blues battered them 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final last summer.

Paris enjoyed their encounters with English teams last season, beating Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal on their way to the final. Chelsea, though, have won all six of their clashes with French opposition since losing to PSG in 2016.

PSG vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news

PSG team news

Joao Neves is a major doubt due to an ankle problem after missing recent training sessions. Quentin Ndjantou is sidelined by a hamstring problem.

Fabian Ruiz is unavailable for the match, further limiting options in central midfield and increasing responsibility on Vitinha and Warren Zaire-Emery.

Ousmane Dembele has recently returned from a calf injury and is expected to be available, although reports suggest he may lack full match sharpness after limited minutes in his recent fixture.

Defensively, captain Marquinhos is expected to start alongside Willian Pacho in defence after sitting on the bench in his last two matches, while Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are expected to provide attacking width from full-back positions.

Chelsea team news

Chelsea travel to Paris with a relatively stable squad but are still dealing with several injury absences. Levi Colwill remains out with an ACL injury, while Jamie Gittens is also doubtful and it is most likely that he will miss this match.

Estevao is a doubt after missing recent matches with a hamstring issue and it has to be seen whether he recovers in time for this game.

Wesley Fofana has overcome a minor thigh concern and is expected to start alongside Trevoh Chalobah in central defence, while Marc Cucurella has received a positive fitness update and could return at left-back.

The midfield pairing of Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez has been crucial to their European run, though both players enter the match one booking away from suspension for the second leg.

Read – Chelsea outcast will ‘get in trouble’ if he tells all about exile

Form

PSG: WWDWL

PSG’s recent form has been patchy. They come to this match after a 1-3 loss against Monaco in Ligue 1. They failed to win three of their last six matches in all competitions. They have also scored just 11 and conceded ten across that stretch, a deeply unusual ratio for a side that has dominated Ligue 1 for over a decade

Chelsea: WDLWW

Chelsea also won only three of their last six matches in all competitions. But under Liam Rosenior, who replaced the departed Enzo Maresca on 6th January, the Blues have climbed from 8th to 5th in the Premier League with 48 points from 29 matches and look a genuinely transformed outfit. They come to this match after a 4-2 win against Wrexham in the FA Cup.

Predicted lineups

PSG: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Dro, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Doue, Barcola, Kvaratskhelia

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro

How to watch PSG vs Chelsea?

UK viewers can watch PSG vs Chelsea live on TNT Sports 2.

Read – Five players who played for both Galatasaray and Liverpool

See Also – West Ham agree new contract with veteran forward

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube