Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for another huge night of
Champions League action as
Chelsea host
Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their last-16 clash. The tie hangs in the balance going into this game, with both sides still in with a very realistic chance of progressing through to the quarter-finals tonight. Let's start with a look at our hosts...
Chelsea come into tonight's game with a slight advantage due to their away goal, but
Jose Mourinho will be taking nothing for granted this evening. The tie is still very much up for grabs and his side were second best for the vast majority of the first leg in Paris. A repeat performance this evening would make it very difficult for them to progress and they will need to improve on recent displays if they are to progress.
The Blues only had two shots in the first leg, the last of which came when Ivanovic put his side in the lead in the 36th minute. Chelsea seemed content with coming away from a draw in Paris, and understandably so considering it puts the tie just about in their hands, but it wasn't exactly a performance that will have the rest of Europe shaking in their boots. That away goal could prove decisive tonight, though, just like Hazard's penalty did when these two sides met in this competition last season.
In truth, Chelsea have not been at their best for some time now. The last match they can really say that they performed particularly well in was the 5-0 drubbing of Swansea back on January 17, with 10 games passing by since that win. They haven't shown the type of form that had many proclaiming them as champions elect earlier in the season since then, yet they are still well placed to add more silverware to their League Cup triumph.
The crucial matter of Chelsea's recent form - and all Mourinho will care about - is that they have still managed to pick up the required results. Despite playing far below the expected level, Chelsea come into this match unbeaten in eight games, with their last defeat coming in that remarkable FA Cup match against Bradford City. That is the only result in the recent spell of relatively disappointing performances that you could say Mourinho would have been upset with, as his side have won the League Cup, maintained a gap at the top of the Premier League and are on course to progress in the Champions League in that time.
That gap to Manchester City domestically is still five points thanks to the champions' recent defeat to Liverpool, with Chelsea having a game in hand later in the season hanging over their nearest challengers. City have already shown that they are capable of closing a sizeable gap this season, so Chelsea won't become complacent, but
Jose Mourinho's side are certainly heavy favourites to go on and lift the title.
They may even have dreams of making it treble with success in the Champions League, and the signs are good so far. The Blues are one of just two remaining unbeaten sides in the competition following Real Madrid's loss to Schalke yesterday, with Porto the other team yet to taste defeat this season. Chelsea cruised to success in their group, scoring more goals than any other team in the group stages and, at their best, would be a match for any team in the world.
Their form has faltered a little at home of late, with only three wins from their last six matches at Stamford Bridge. That isn't exactly cause for panic stations, but when you consider that the Blues won 14 of their first 15 home games and drew the other one then it will be a concern for Mourinho. They have still only been beaten once in front of their own fans and conceded 12 goals all season - a third of which came in the defeat to Bradford - but they have also drawn with Burnley here recently too.
That will give PSG confidence that they can pull off something of an upset tonight, and
Laurent Blanc will also be telling his side that the first leg performance proves that they can outplay Chelsea. The French champions were unfortunate not to come away with a first-leg victory, with Thibaut Courtois the man of the match for Chelsea, which should give them the belief that they can win tonight.
PSG were here just last season, however, and they came to Stamford Bridge in a much more commanding position than they currently find themselves in, against a Chelsea side that was not as good as the current crop. The two teams met in the quarter-finals last term, with PSG winning the first leg 3-1 at the Parc des Princes. It looked like being enough to send them through to the last four, but Demba Ba netted a second goal for Chelsea with just three minutes remaining to sent the Blues through and PSG crashing out.
The more recent past has been kinder to the Ligue 1 outfit, however, and they come into tonight's match having not lost in their last 14 matches in all competitions. That run, which stretches back to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Bastia on January 10, includes 10 victories and seven clean sheets. They have only conceded once in their last three games, but their main priority tonight comes at the other end as they need to score at least once to stand any chance of going through.
Their defensive record is particularly good on the road in recent weeks, which could bode well should they nick a goal at the other end and need to hang on. They have only conceded one goal in a five-match unbeaten streak on their travels, although on the flipside they have also only scored four times in that spell. Overall, their away form is unsurprisingly less impressive than their home form, with all three of their defeats this season coming on the road.
Domestically, the defending champions floundered a little over the first half of the season but are now right in the title race with 28 matches gone. There is still work to do for
Laurent Blanc's side, who are now one point off leaders Lyon, but they will be confident of overhauling that slender in the remaining months of the campaign. Marseille are also in the mix, sitting three points behind PSG in third, so it is shaping up to be an intriguing title battle in France's top flight.
They were forced to settle for a second-placed finish in their Champions League group, although there is no great shame in finishing just two points behind Barcelona. They managed to beat the Spanish giants in the process, which proves that they can pick up victories over Europe's best, and ended the group stages a comfortable eight points clear of third-placed Ajax. They have, however, only won two of their last six away games in this competition - including last season's defeat here - and failed to score more than one in an away match during the group stages.
PSG's main problem in the league this season has been drawing matches, but that could be all they need this evening. They have shared the spoils on 11 occasions in Ligue 1 - more than any other side in the league - but would progress should they draw while scoring more than one goal tonight. Another 1-1 draw would take it to extra time and then perhaps penalties, while victory for either side would put them into the last eight.
TEAM NEWS: The teams are in for both sides, and the headline for the hosts is that Nemanja Matic returns to the fold following his suspension and an ankle injury. He replaces Zouma in the only change from last week's win over West Ham, while PSG make five changes from their weekend win over Lens. Marquinhos, Silva, Matuidi, Cavani and Pastore all return, with the former seemingly playing at right-back. Full teams for both sides coming right up...
CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa
CHELSEA SUBS: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Willian, Cuadrado, Remy, Drogba
PSG STARTING XI: Sirigu; Marquinhos, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell; Verratti, Motta, Matuidi; Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Pastore
PSG SUBS: Douchez, Camara, Bahebeck, Digne, Lavezzi, Van der Wiel, Rabiot
What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, there are no surprises in the Chelsea starting XI, with Matic the only change to their last outing. Zouma had impressed during his two matches operating in the defensive midfield position, but it was always expected that Matic would return. He was handed a two-game ban for the red card against Burnley and picked up an ankle injury in the League Cup celebrations but is fine to play this evening and is likely to be an important player, as ever, for his side tonight.
Leading line is Diego Costa, who Laurent Blanc has warned his side not to wind up tonight. Costa has certainly hit the ground running in terms of English football, but he is yet to find the back of the net in the Champions League for Chelsea and will be desperate to end that duck. Tonight would be a perfect time to do it, but he will need to improve on a rather underwhelming performance in the first leg if he is to do that.
Eden Hazard is every bit as dangerous as Costa and PSG will be well aware of his talents from his time with Lille, in addition to the meetings last season. The Belgian has been in superb form all season but was relatively quiet in the first leg again. That may be largely down to the treatment he was given, being fouled nine times in the match - a record for a Champions League game. Indeed, he has been fouled more times (28) in this season's competition than any other player.
He is joined in the three just behind Costa by Ramires, who continues to be preferred to Willian in the last couple of weeks. Fabregas partners Matic in central midfielder, while the familiar back four of Ivanovic, who scored in the first leg, Cahill, Terry and Azpilicueta continue. Behind them is Courtois, who will be as responsible as anyone should Chelsea progress having kept them in the tie during the first leg last month.
As for PSG, Blanc has made a number of changes having taken the opportunity to rest a few key players during their comfortable 4-1 win over Lens at the weekend.
Thiago Silva is among those to return to the fold, and he will partner former Chelsea man
David Luiz in the centre of defence. Luiz played the first leg in midfield but is expected to drop deeper tonight, with Marquinhos moving over to the right to accommodate him in an all-Brazilian back four.
In midfield, Motta starts having returned from a month on the sidelines at the weekend, with Verratti and Matuidi joining him in the centre of the park. Those latter two were involved in a fascinating midfield battle in the first leg and they just about came out on top in it, although Verratti was walking a tightrope with the number of challenges he was making at times. That trio are likely to be key if PSG are to emerge victorious tonight.
The same applies for the front three, with Cavani and Pastore both returning to partner Ibrahimovic, who returned from suspension to score against Lens at the weekend. Pastore also scored in that match and is preferred to Lavezzi tonight, with Cavani completing the dangerous front trio. Cavani was his side's best player in the first leg and was rewarded with his goal, so will be looking to get the better of the Chelsea defence again tonight. Five of his six Champions League knockout games have come against Chelsea, ending up on the losing side for both Napoli and PSG, but he has six goals in seven appearances in this competition this season - his best return. Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, has scored just seven goals in 34 Champions League knockout games - an average of one every 4.9 games - compared to 36 in 73 in the groups.
PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at Stamford Bridge, which means that it is time for a match prediction! This really is a tough one to call tonight, with Chelsea not in their best form in terms of performances, if not results, and PSG proving in the first leg that they can outplay the Blues. Mourinho is a master of getting what his side needs, however, and I can see Chelsea just sneaking through to the last eight tonight. I'll go for a 2-1 win.
Chelsea have an impressive record against French opposition at Stamford Bridge having never lost to a side from across the channel here. They have won four and drawn two of their six meetings, keeping five clean sheets in the process. Should they manage another clean sheet tonight then they will be in the quarter-finals.
In contrast, PSG have not only never won on English soil, they have failed to even score a goal in their five matches away to English sides in European competition. They will need to break that duck if they are to reach a third consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals. Chelsea, meanwhile are bidding to reach the last eight for the fourth time in the last five seasons and the seventh time in the last nine. They, of course, won the competition in 2012, while Mourinho has won it twice - in 2004 with Porto and 2010 with Inter Milan.
Chelsea have only ever lost three of the eight European ties in which they have drawn the first leg away from home, with their five victories all coming when the first-leg score was 1-1. PSG, meanwhile, have won five of the 11 ties in which they have drawn the first leg at home - not a bad record considering it leaves them with a slight disadvantage in the second leg.
There is one other Champions League tie taking place tonight, with Bayern Munich hosting Shakhtar at the Allianz Arena. The German giants are heavy favourites for that match, but the first leg finished goalless so it still hangs in the balance. I will keep you up to date with events from that match, while you can follow more in-depth coverage
here.
KICKOFF: PSG get us underway as they look to do what they failed to do last season and complete the job at Stamford to progress through to the next round of the Champions League. Both teams are wearing black armbands tonight in memory of the tragic helicopter crash in Argentina that killed eight French people, including three Olympians.
Really bright start from PSG as they knock the ball about quickly and accurately inside the Chelsea half. They almost get a clear opening in the first few minutes as Verratti slides a pass through to Cavani, but Terry is there to knock it behind for a corner.
This has been a very confident start to the match from the visitors, who are zipping the ball about with intent. It has been a good, quick opening few minutes already as both sides look to get on the front foot.
UPDATE: What a nightmare start for Shakhtar in the other Champions League tie! With just five minutes on the clock, Kucher has been shown a red card and Thomas Muller has tucked away the subsequent penalty to put Bayern into the lead.
PSG will be happy with how they have started this match. There is a lot of movement in the final third, with no attacking player standing still, which is causing the hosts a few problems already.
Chelsea are also looking to inject a bit of pace into their attack when they get forward, and they seem to be targeting the left flank in particular at the moment. Hazard has looked bright, while Costa is operate more in that channel too.
A worry for PSG as Luiz goes down off the ball holding his stomach, with the referee stopping the match. It seems to have been during an incident with Costa off the ball, and the two are not exactly exchanging niceties right now. That is one to keep an eye on.
A hint of a penalty shout for the visitors as Verratti goes down under the challenge of the backtracking Ramires. The Brazilian tried to get out of the way and Verratti threw himself to the floor, so the referee makes the right decision to wave the claims away.
Both teams have started this match with a really good tempo about them, both on and off the ball. Chelsea in particular are pressing high and quickly on the PSG defence, looking to defend from the front.
Pretty much everything has come down the left for Chelsea so far, and they seem to have highlighted Marquinhos in the full-back role as a potential weakness. Costa has been popping up on the wing often so far, which may not necessarily be a good thing for the hosts.
Chelsea have a really good chance to break after Courtois came and confidently claimed a corner. The hosts have a four-on-three situation, but Oscar is unaware that Costa had burst through the middle into space and turned into trouble before being tackled.
Still no chances for either side in this match, but it hasn't been a dull game as we approach the midway point in the first half. Both sides have tried to be positive, but the defences have held firm so far.
Chelsea are very nearly in, but Ramires's flick round the corner is just behind Hazard. The Belgian was going for a one-two and had darted into the box for the return pass, but Ramires couldn't quite pull it off. Hazard would have been clean though had that come off.
Ibrahimovic has dropped deep a lot already this evening, which he often does to allow Matuidi and co to power beyond him, but PSG will also want the Swede to see more of the ball further up the field. He has only had a very limited influence so far.
Another hint of an opening for Chelsea as Costa is released by a long ball down the left. He is stopped in his tracks by Silva but the ball is fed in to Hazard, who for a moment looks to be in space on the edge of the box. However, the flag is up against Oscar and a decent chance comes to nothing for the Blues.
The tempo has dropped now, with Chelsea no longer pressing high up the field and hunting to win the ball back quickly. PSG have also slowed things down on the ball, content to knock it about at the back for a while rather than looking to work it forward quickly.
Verratti is walking a tightrope again here. He needlessly tugs back Oscar while PSG have the ball, and the referee spots it and awards a free kick. He can't be too far away from another booking.
RED CARD! Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
Big moment in the tie as Ibrahimovic is given his marching orders with a straight red card! It was a 50-50 in midfield and both Ibrahimovic and Oscar slid in with studs showing, with the Chelsea man getting there a fraction before the Swede. The Chelsea players immediately surround the referee and that must have some say in the decision as Bjorn Kuipers produces a red card. For me, it was a very harsh one as Ibrahimovic immediately put his hands up and seemed to be genuinely going for the ball.
YELLOW CARD! The fall-out continues from that challenge and the players square up again, with Motta earning a yellow card for his protestations.
Well, that has really turned the heat up in Stamford Bridge! The PSG players clearly feel that Chelsea influenced the ref with their reaction to that challenge, and I have to say that I agree. A yellow would have sufficed for Ibrahimovic, but the Chelsea players were forceful with their complaints and immediately surrounded the Dutch official.
Ivanovic makes progress down the right flank for the first time tonight and his low ball into the box is deflected into a dangerous area. Sirigu is alert to the danger, however, and collects it with ease.
YELLOW CARD! Oscar also goes into the book, seemingly for preventing a free kick being taken. The referee needs to get a grip of this match now.
Vital piece of defending as he stretches every sinew to nod the ball away from Cavani at the back post. It was Maxwell's floated delivery that caused the problems and Terry needed to make the interception.
YELLOW CARD! Another yellow card for PSG as Mauitidi goes into the book, but he can have few complaints about this one. He cynically tugged Hazard on the break, and that is always going to be a caution nowadays.
SAVE! The first notable save of the day comes from Sirigu as Oscar curls one towards goal, but it is straight into the arms of the keeper. The attention was drawn towards another clash off the ball between Luiz and Costa, however, with the latter left in a heap on the turf clutching his face.
PENALTY SHOUT! Huge penalty shout for the hosts as Costa somehow bundles through a host of PSG challenges on the edge of the box. He finally breaks into the area and goes down under the challenge of Cavani, who was clumsy it must be said. I have seen them given, and it is probably another one the ref has got wrong, although it was a difficult one.
Luiz picks the ball up a long way from goal and strides forward from midfield before letting fly from a good 35 yards. His strike takes a deflection on the way through but Courtois still needs to deal with it. Moments later at the other end, Sirigu just about deals with an over-hit back-pass from Silva.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
Almost a chance for Chelsea as Fabregas whips a delivery to the back post, where Terry, Cahill and Costa are all attacking it. It becomes a bit of a mess with the mass of bodies in there and luckily for the visitors bounces to safety.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain (1-1 on aggregate)
A controversial first half comes to an end at Stamford Bridge, with no change to the scores but no shortage of talking points. The tie is now even further in Chelsea's favour than it was at kickoff, but one goal for PSG would change all of that. Both sides are still very much in the match and it is set up very nicely for a blockbuster second half.
The major talking point of the half came shortly after the half-hour mark when
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was shown a straight red card for a foul on Oscar. The referee was very quick to draw the card and the Chelsea players reacted angrily to surround the official, pleading for the dismissal. He duly obliged, but it was a harsh decision on Ibrahimovic. He went into the 50-50 challenge just as strongly as Oscar, but was pipped to the ball by the Brazilian. A yellow card would have sufficed, but Ibrahimovic was given his marching orders.
That raised the temperature of the match, and Chelsea were left ruing a refereeing decision towards the end of the half as well. Costa barraged his way into the box, somehow breaking past a number of challenges on the edge of the box before going down under a clumsy tackle from Cavani. The referee could well have given it, but he waved the claims away.
In terms of chances and goalmouth action, there have been very little for either side. The only save of the opening 45 minutes came late on as Sirigu made a routine stop to deny an Oscar strike from range, but even then it was overshadowed by an incident off the ball involving Luiz and Costa, who have clashed a number of times already tonight. It is a duel that is bubbling under the surface and I wouldn't be surprised to see it explode in the second half.
There has certainly been an edge to the game, and the referee has struggled to keep a lid on it since the red card. Verratti is fortunate not to have gone into the book already, while Oscar has been cautioned and is not too far away from a second if he continues the way he is going. There was a minor scuffle between the players immediately after the red card as PSG accused Chelsea of influencing the referee, and that ill-feeling continued over the final 15 minutes.
The biggest shame about Ibrahimovic's red card is that it threatens to ruin was was shaping up to be a very interesting game of football. Both sides started well, with PSG in particular looking to get on the front foot. They enjoyed the most possession before the red card and would have felt good about their chances, but the referee's poor decision has given the visitors a mountain to climb.
KICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway for the second half and the first thing to note is that the hosts have made a change, with Willian replacing Oscar. That is a wise decision from Mourinho as Oscar was a risk of being sent off after that feisty first half.
All hope is not lost for PSG tonight. They have a lot of threats from set pieces and, while Chelsea may not dominate possession for long spells now, the visitors will look to stay in the tie.
SAVE! Early work for Sirigu to do as Willian tries to catch the keeper out with a free kick towards the near post. The Italian is over in plenty of time but chooses to push it away for a corner instead of catching it. From the resulting delivery he comes for the ball but gets nowhere near it and is fortunate to escape punishment.
Half a chance for Chelsea as Willian's delivery is only cleared as far as Cahill, who has dropped off to the edge of the box. He has a bit of space to shoot, but fails to catch his effort and it is easily blocked.
YELLOW CARD! Ramires is the next name in the book for a late challenge on Motta deep inside the PSG half.
Positive play from Maxwell as he bursts forward on the inside of Cavani, collecting the Uruguayan's pass in the left channel. He tries to drive one towards the near post, but it takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner.
UPDATE: As you can see on the videprinter below, Bayern Munich are in total control against Shakhtar now, with Ribery and Muller scoring in quick succession to make it 4-0 at the Allianz Arena. They will be in the draw for the quarter-finals, as expected.
OFF THE POST! Huge chance for PSG to get a crucial away goal! Verratti sparks a break forward and the ball is worked through to Cavani, who beats the offside trap and finds himself with only Courtois to beat. He does that well, taking the ball past the Belgian before firing his effort towards the near post. However, with the goal gaping, the ball kisses the post and flies right across the face of goal before going behind. What an opening!
How big could that miss prove to be in this tie? PSG may not get another one and, while Cavani is slightly unlucky with the finish, you have to say that he really should have scored having rounded Courtois. Massive, massive chance.
Chelsea have seen more of the ball since Ibrahimovic's red card, but they have not really grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. That Cavani chance was a warning shot for the Blues and they must respond now as PSG are very much still in this tie as things stand.
There is a growing air of frustration around Stamford Bridge at the moment as the hosts continue to struggle to find a way through this PSG team. Chelsea are still going through as things stand, but a goal would at least protect them from a late blow from the visitors.
PSG attack down the right flank, but Courtois claims Marquinhos's cross brilliantly. His handling has been exceptional today. His teammates aren't matching those levels of excellence, however, and they give the ball away in dangerous area, only for Matuidi's shot to be blocked.
PSG are looking quite comfortable at the moment and, if you didn't know otherwise, you wouldn't suspect that they had been playing with a man fewer since the 31st minute. It is Chelsea who are looking the more tired of the two sides.
Chelsea have just edged the possession 59%-41% so far, but you'd expect more from a team with the numerical advantage. It has been another disappointing display from the hosts so far, but once again they are on course to get the result they need.
CHANCE! Good chance for PSG again! Pastore and Matuidi inadvertently link up to find a way into the box and the flag doesn't go up when it perhaps should. In the end it is Pastore that goes for goal, but his effort is tame. Courtois makes the save but palms it out into a dangerous area, only for Cavani to be crowded out from the rebound.
Chelsea really do look tired at the moment. They have had quite a few fixtures in recent weeks but it has been a full seven days since their last, which is more rest than they would usually get.
YELLOW CARDS! It has been bubbling under the surface all evening, and finally Costa and Luiz have both been booked. Costa put in a poor challenge initially and Luiz raced over before squaring up to the striker and acting as if he had been headbutted. Both are cautioned, with Luiz drawing angry reactions from the PSG players.
YELLOW CARD! Verratti swiftly follows them into the book for a high foot on Hazard, and again both sets of players clash. Terry races over and squares up to Verratti, but there is no punishment for the Chelsea skipper.
These stoppages are probably helping Chelsea a little more than PSG here, with the Blues happy to waste time with this scoreline enough for them to progress. As a spectacle, though, it is doing the game no favours.
Just over 10 minutes remain in West London now and it is fast approaching crunch time for the visitors. They have performed admirably with 10 men for the majority of this match but, as it stands, they are going out. They need a goal.
CHANCE! Chelsea have their best opening of the match as Ramires is slid in down the right, drawing a save from Sirigu at the near post.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 PSG (Gary Cahill)
Chelsea get the breakthrough, and again it is a defender who gets it! It is a messy build-up as the hosts have a couple of bites at the cherry following a corner. Costa is the last to mis-hit it before it falls to Cahill, who lashes a sweet strike past a helpless Sirigu.
CHANCE! Lavezzi, who has just come on as a sub in place of Verratti, almost makes an instant impact with an all-important goal. The ball was floated into him in the area and he rose well to plant a firm header towards goal, but it was straight at Courtois.
PSG SUB: In addition to Lavezzi, Adrien Rabiot also came on in the wake of that goal, replacing Matuidi.
CHELSEA SUB: Chelsea also make a change, with Matic hobbling off to be replaced by Kurt Zouma for the final six minutes plus any stoppage time.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 PSG (David Luiz)
Oh my word! PSG get the equaliser, and who else but David Luiz scores it! The delivery from a corner to the front post is a decent one, but this is all about the finish. Luiz attacks it and thunders a magnificent header in off the underside of the bar. You will do well to see a more emphatic headed finish than that! Game on now at Stamford Bridge!
A reminder that, as things stand, we are now heading for extra time and possibly penalties unless someone can find a dramatic late winner. It has been an eventful game so far, so don't rule out a bit more late drama!
Hazard wins a free kick from Cavani in a dangerous position, but Silva comes up with an important header to flick Fabregas's delivery over the crossbar.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this 90. As things stand, we're set for another 30 here.
Costa is angry at not being given a penalty right on the edge of the area and reacts by pushing Marquinhos to the ground. The referee has turned his back, however, and misses the incident. Kuipers is having a shocker tonight!
END OF 90 MINUTES: Chelsea 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain (2-2 on aggregate)
Wow, what a finish to normal time at Stamford Bridge! Chelsea looked to have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League through
Gary Cahill's goal in the 81st minute, but David Luiz popped up to haunt his former club with a stunning header just four minutes from time, forcing extra time.
It has been a very spiky and eventful match, with the ill-feeling between the two sets of players running throughout. Ibrahimovic was harshly sent off just after the half-hour mark and it is a surprise that no other player has followed. Luiz and Costa have been involved in a running feud throughout, while there have been a number of skirmishes between the two teams at various points in the match.
KICKOFF: PSG get us back underway for the first period of extra time, and there has been another change for Chelsea at the interval with Didier Drogba replacing Ramires.
You get the feeling that Luiz really enjoyed his goal having been deemed surplus to requirement by Mourinho last season. Here is the Brazilian celebrating his magnificent header. No signs of not celebrating against your former team here!
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 PSG (Eden Hazard, pen)
Chelsea regain the lead on the night and on aggregate, but what on earth was Silva thinking?! The PSG skipper rose with his hands high in the air in an attempt to beat Zouma in an aerial battle, batting the ball with his hand and conceding a penalty. It wasn't exactly a Hand of God but he can have no complaints at the referee pointing to the spot. From that point, there is one conclusion with Hazard stepping up to take the spot kick, and he calmly rolls the ball home having sent Sirigu the wrong way.
Can Chelsea hold on now? PSG have come from behind twice already in this tie and have been the better side again tonight, but that clock will be ticking awfully quickly from that point of view. Silva, meanwhile, must be ruing that moment of madness, particularly as he had had a really good game before that.
Hazard looks to be in down the left channel having been slid in by Drogba but, having beaten the keeper to the ball, he runs out of space and the ball goes behind for a goal kick. Seeing that, Hazard throws himself to the floor and is fortunate not to be shown a yellow card for diving.
SAVE! Luiz looks to be the hero again, and he isn't too far away from it. He lines up a free kick from over 30 yards out and hits it with dip and power, forcing a backtracking Courtois to tip it over the top. Fine effort from the Brazilian.
Nice football from Chelsea as Drogba and Hazard link up in the final third. The latter slides a pass through for Costa, but Marquinhos is across well to mop up.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME: Chelsea 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Chelsea lead 3-2 on aggregate)
Chelsea will go into the final 15 minutes of this tie with the lead courtesy of Hazard's goal from the spot after Silva handled the ball in the area. Can PSG come back again here or will the hosts hold out?
KICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway knowing that they are 15 minutes away from the Champions League quarter-finals. One goal without reply for PSG would send the visitors through, though. This one is so finely poised.
Chelsea don't have anyone in the PSG half now as they look to batten down the hatches for the final stages of this match. Expect the visitors to begin to pile the pressure on in the next 10 minutes or so.
PSG have the chance to put the ball in the box but, with everyone forward, it is a poor delivery from Lavezzi. Chelsea break quickly and Willian feeds the ball across to Costa, who blazes a terrible shot high and wide from the edge of the box when he had Hazard unmarked on his left.
Almost an opening for PSG at the other end as the ball is worked across to Cavani, who for a moment looks to be in space. His shot is blocked, however, and when the ball arrives back to him from the right moments later his touch lets him down inside the area.
CHANCE! Silva so nearly makes amends for giving away the penalty, but he is denied by a fabulous save from Courtois.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 PSG (Thiago Silva)
Moments after being denied, Silva has done it! His first header was good, but this one leaves Courtois no chance as he loops one over the keeper from a good 12-14 yards out. What a relief that must be for the skipper, who has turned from zero to hero in one swing of the head. Incredible scenes here.
So, as things stand, PSG are through unless Chelsea can come up with something in the final few minutes here. This has been a match full of drama and Chelsea did it late against PSG last time, so don't rule anything out!
Willian pings a long cross towards the back post that Costa rises well to meet at the back post. He gets a good head to it, but it is simple for Sirigu at his near post.
PSG SUB: A third and final change from the visitors as they look to wind the clock down. Pastore is the man to make way, with Gregory van der Wiel coming on.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this match. Can Chelsea come up with something in that time?
FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG win on away goals)
Chelsea go crashing out of the Champions League following a dramatic evening at Stamford Bridge, with PSG avenging last season's defeat at the quarter-final stage. The French champions go through on away goals having come from behind three times over the whole tie. It was 2-2 on the night tonight, with Thiago Silva getting the all-important winner after extra time having given away the penalty that looked like sending his side out. David Luiz had earlier cancelled out Cahill's opener with a thunderous header, and those two away goals were enough to send the Parisians through.
That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for what was a remarkable night in West London as Chelsea are eliminated from the Champions League by 10-man PSG. I will leave you with our
match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!