Chelsea held Paris Saint-Germain to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash at the Parc des Princes this evening.
Branislav Ivanovic gave the visitors a lead in the first half when he nodded home Gary Cahill's flick from close range to secure a crucial away goal.
PSG responded in the second half, however, and levelled the tie up when Edinson Cavani found himself unmarked in the area to head the ball in.
Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening! The Champions League is back up and running this evening and we have a treat for you in the form of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain hosting Premier League leaders Chelsea in a repeat of last season's quarter-finals. The pair were very evenly matched on that occasion and we are expecting another fascinating showdown over the two legs this time around. Let's start with a look at our hosts...
Revenge may well be on PSG's minds this evening after they were knocked out of the tournament in cruel fashion by Chelsea last season, but whatever their motivating factor, Laurent Blanc will know from experience that his side could do with building up a decent lead tonight. A two-goal advantage wasn't enough last time around and, with Chelsea even stronger at home this season than they were last, they will be going all out for a convincing victory tonight.
That is also coupled with the fact that PSG haven't found things so easy themselves this season. The reigning Ligue 1 champions have had things their own in domestically for a while now, but they come into tonight's match sitting third in the table, two points behind leaders Lyon and level with second-placed Marseille. The defence of their league crown is very much up in the air right now, which could prove to be a distraction when it comes to this competition.
The biggest issue for PSG domestically this season has been the sheer number of matches that they have drawn. Like Chelsea, who have been so impressive in the Premier League, PSG have only lost twice in the league this season, but Laurent Blanc's side have come away with a solitary point on 10 other occasions - the most in Ligue 1. That represents far too many dropped points for the capital club and it is something they will need to address if they are to retain their title.
There haven't been as many problems when it comes to Europe, however, with PSG enjoying a good group campaign despite being bunched with former champions Barcelona and Ajax. They ended up eight points clear of the Dutch side and only two behind Barcelona, who are the favourites for many people to win the competition. PSG actually beat Barcelona here 3-2 in a thrilling match, which is proof that, on their day, they are a match for anyone.
Jose Mourinho will be acutely aware of that fact, as he will about PSG's general good form going into this match. They are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, winning seven and keeping five clean sheets in that time. They have only been beaten three times in all competitions throughout the current campaign, although their most recent outing resulting in a desperately disappointing draw with Caen at the weekend. PSG led 2-0 at half time but conceded twice in the final two minutes to throw away what looked to be a certain victory. However, it should be noted that they ended that match with nine men due to a number of injuries.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about that late collapse was that it came here at the Parc des Princes, where PSG have been so good this season. They are unbeaten in front of their own fans in the current campaign, a run that stretches back 18 matches if you include the tail end of last season too. The draw with Caen saw them drop their first home points of 2015, while over the entire season they have conceded just 11 goals in the capital.
Just as daunting for Chelsea is PSG's record at home in Europe - they have not been beaten in their last 32 European outings in front of their own fans, last tasting defeat back in November 2006 in a UEFA Cup game against Hapoel Tel Aviv. That is the longest run of its kind ever by a French club and includes 22 victories, including ones over Barcelona and Chelsea inside the past year. You have to go all the way back to December 2004 for their last home Champions League loss, while they have won their last six at the Parc des Princes in this competition.
It will certainly not be an easy game for Chelsea, then, particularly as the Blues have shown signs of weaknesses in recent weeks. Many were tipping Jose Mourinho's men for an Invincible season in the Premier League, such was the strength of the start they made to the campaign, but defeats to Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and, in the FA Cup, lowly Bradford City, have made them seem a lot more beatable and they have struggled to reach their early season form of late.
Indeed, it is now six matches since Chelsea could really say that they were at their best. The Blues were hugely impressive during a 5-0 away victory over Swansea City, but since then have rather fortuitously crept past Liverpool in a two-legged League Cup semi-final, lost to Bradford in the FA Cup, hung on for a home draw against Manchester City and narrowly scraped victories against out-of-form duo Aston Villa and Everton.
You will notice, though, that Chelsea have still come out on top in many of those matches. Jose Mourinho has found a winning formula that seems to work even when his side aren't playing well, which is a crucial element of any title challenge. Even the draws against Liverpool and Manchester City were better results for Chelsea than they were for their opponents, and the only result in those six unconvincing games that Mourinho would have been particularly unhappy with is the stunning defeat to Bradford.
They have been in fine form in Europe so far this season, though, with a couple of exceptions. Draws against Maribor and Schalke were disappointing results for Mourinho, but they still comfortably topped Group G, with six points separating them from second-placed Schalke. It was the ninth time in the last 12 years that they had won their Champions League group, and they are one of only three teams left in the tournament who passed through the groups without losing a game.
Indeed, they were the highest scorers in the group stages, firing six past Maribor and five past Schalke to help them to a 17-goal haul over their six matches. They have only lost one of their last nine Champions League matches, since their loss here against PSG in the quarter-finals last season, with that defeat coming at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals. They have won five and drawn three since then, but have only emerged victorious from two of their last seven away games in the competition. However, they have managed three clean sheets in their last four, which could prove crucial if they can do that again tonight.
Away form has generally been Chelsea's weakness this season, at least compared to their home form. The Blues have won 16 of their 19 games at Stamford Bridge, whereas away from home they have won 11 of 19 - by no means a poor record but still enough to let PSG know that a win in their home leg tonight will be crucial. Having said that, arguably Chelsea's two best performances of the season, in 5-0 victories over both Schalke and Swansea - have come on their travels.
They needed a stroke of luck to come away with victory at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday as, despite dominating proceedings against Everton, they struggled to break the Toffees down. That was until Gareth Barry got sent off in the 88th minute and Willian fired in a deflected winner just a minute later to keep Chelsea seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
TEAM NEWS: The teams are in for both sides and the headline new is that David Luiz plays against his former club in a defensive midfield position. He is one of three enforced changes for Laurent Blanc, who also welcomes Cavani and Van der Wiel into his side. Mourinho has also made changes, most notably bringing Diego Costa back following his recent suspension. Fabregas also starts despite concerns over his fitness, with Cuadrado the man to make way. Courtois, meanwhile returns in goal to replace Cech. Full teams for both sides coming right up...
PSG STARTING XI: Sirigu; Van der Wiel, Silva, Marquinhos, Maxwell; Luiz, Verratti, Matuidi; Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic, Cavani
PSG SUBS: Douchez, Camara, Bahebeck, Digne, Rabiot, Pastore, Kimpembe
CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa
CHELSEA SUBS: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Oscar, Cuadrado, Drogba, Remy
What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, eyes will immediately be drawn to the PSG attack, which is one of the most deadly in Europe on paper at least. Ibrahimovic is the star of the show and much could come down to who shines most out of him and Costa in this tie, but Chelsea certainly can't afford to ignore the likes of Lavezzi, who scored against the Blues here last season, and Cavani, who returns to the side having sat out the draw with Caen.
David Luiz is another notable inclusion for PSG following his £50m switch from Chelsea last summer. The Brazilian won the Champions League and Europa League during an eventful stint in West London, but was deemed surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho. Even so, Luiz has said that he won't celebrate should he score against his former employers tonight. He certainly wasn't celebrating when he had the ball in the back of the net when visiting here with Chelsea last season as he scored an own goal to helped towards PSG's 3-1 win.
At the back, PSG are boosted by the news that Marquinhos is fit to play, and the same is true of Matuidi in midfield. Both were doubts for this match along with the likes of Lucas Moura, Yohan Cabaye, Serge Aurier and Thiago Motta, all of whom miss out. Javier Pastore, who scored the third goal for PSG against Chelsea here last season, is also only fit enough for the bench.
For Chelsea, Jose Mourinho has made a number of high-profile changes, starting in goal where he has recalled Courtois. The Belgian was dropped against Everton having 'lost focus' according to his manager, and Cech may feel hard done by having made one magnificent save to deny Lukaku on his way to another clean sheet in that match. It is certainly a privileged position that Mourinho finds himself in with two keepers of the highest quality, though, and Courtois will want to ensure that he is not dropped again with a good performance tonight.
In front of him, there is also a return for Gary Cahill, who has seen his place come under serious threat from the impressive Kurt Zouma in recent weeks. The rest of the back four is unchanged, but it is something of a surprise to see Cahill return given how well Zouma has done so far. Mourinho may feel that tonight is a night for experience, however, with Cahill having played against the mercurial Ibrahimovic before and having prior knowledge of what is needed in big European away games such as this.
Juan Cuadrado is dropped back to the bench having made his full debut against Everton last week, with Cesc Fabregas playing in a more advanced role on his return from injury. The Spaniard has been in sparkling form for Chelsea since his summer move from Barcelona, but there were concerns over him in the last few days due to illness. He has been deemed fit enough to start, however, and is expected to be the man just behind the striker, with Matic and Ramires continuing deep and Hazard and Willian operating in wider positions.
Perhaps the most notable inclusion for the visitors is Diego Costa, though. The striker has been an integral part to Chelsea's success this season and they have looked toothless up front at times during his three-game absence for a stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can. He is a real handful for defenders and Thiago Silva and Marquinhos will not be expecting a moment of rest tonight against such a busy striker who will also have a point to prove having missed out recently.
PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Parc des Princes, which means that it is time for a prediction! PSG have not lost at all at home this season and have beaten the likes of Barcelona along the way, so they are more than capable of pulling off a victory tonight. However, this Chelsea is a different prospect to the one that visited last term, and Mourinho knows exactly how to get what he wants from these types of matches. Chelsea would be happy with a draw here tonight, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they set up to get exactly that. I'll go for 1-1.
PSG will still take great belief from their victory over Chelsea here last season, however, even if it didn't ultimately prove to be enough to reach the semi-finals. Hazard got Chelsea's goal from the penalty spot in a 3-1 defeat, and that away strike proved to be crucial as Chelsea won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge less than a week later, with Demba Ba scoring the all-important second with just three minutes of normal time remaining.
Chelsea don't have a great record on French soil, however, having only won one of their six previous visits. That victory did come against PSG back in 2004, however, and there will be one or two familiar faces from that night still around this evening. It was Jose Mourinho's first Champions League game in charge of Chelsea having won the tournament with Porto the year before, while John Terry and Didier Drogba (2) were the men on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win for Chelsea.
Mourinho has only lost one of his 15 Champions League matches against French opposition, boasting 11 wins during that time too. That loss did come here last season, however, and both of PSG's previous victories over English sides have come in front of their own fans.
PSG are looking to reach their third successive quarter-final in this tie having thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 in the last 16 of last term. Chelsea, meanwhile, have reached four quarter-finals in the last five years and seven of the last nine. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Galatasaray in the away leg of their most recent last-16 tie before going on to win 3-1 on aggregate.
KICKOFF: Here we go then! The Champions League is back underway as PSG kick us off in the French capital. Who will draw first blood in this two-legged tie?
There is a great atmosphere inside the Parc des Princes, but Chelsea have made a solid start to the game. They have enjoyed a good chunk of early possession as they look to settle into the match nice and quickly.
PSG enjoy a good amount of possession themselves now, knocking the ball about in midfield without really asking too many question inside the Chelsea half. It has been a low-key start to the game.
Both sides are really pressing each other in midfield in the early stages and that could well be a key area of his match. If the likes of Verratti, Matuidi and Luiz can use their athleticism to bully Chelsea midfielders then it will go a long way to stopping the visitors from playing.
It has been a solid start from both sides to this match without any real signs of chances for either just yet. Both are being cautious.
SAVES! Courtois is the first goalkeeper called into action with two saves in quick succession. The first sees the Belgian make a good stop from a decent Matuidi header after the midfielder had arrived into the box late. Moments later, the ball arrives back into the box and Ibrahimovic climbs above Terry, but his downward header is a little easy for Courtois this time.
The game has just begun to open up a little in the last couple of moments. Chelsea made one positive break which came to nothing shortly after those two chances, while some good play from Ibrahimovic to win a free kick raised the volume levels a little further.
PSG have perhaps just edged the opening 15 minutes here, but Chelsea are looking relatively solid and will be fairly pleased with the start they have made as well. This one looks like developing into a fascinating encounter.
Costa shows his first signs of roughing up the defender, charging straight into Silva and leaving the Brazilian in a heap on the floor. It was nothing too serious, but it was just one to let Silva know that he is there.
Ibrahimovic gets a chance to have a dig from outside the box for the first time tonight, but he sees his attempt well blocked. Chelsea have done a good job of keeping the Swede quiet so far.
Again it's Ibrahimovic causing problems around the Chelsea area as this time he fires in an attempted cross from the right that harmlessly drills into the side-netting of Courtois's goal.
Not much to separate the sides so far midway through the first half. How many tackles will these two make between themselves over the two legs? (Hint: loads)
Ibrahimovic curls over a cross for Lavezzi, but he skies his header a long way over the top from a difficult position at least 15 yards out. The Argentinian was trying to generate all the pace and got his timing all wrong.
Lovely passing from Chelsea and Sirigu is forced into his first real action of the game. Fabregas, Costa and Willian fizzed the ball around before it was worked out to Hazard on the right and the Belgian surged past his man before drilling over a cross that was well held by the Italian keeper.
PSG almost get in behind Chelsea as Verratti lifts a pass over the top for Van der Wiel, who has made a very positive run forward. He attempts a first-time low cross into the middle that beats Terry, but Cahill is in a good position to cut it out.
Big chance for Chelsea here as Verratti trips Hazard, who had just skipped away from his man around 25 yards from goal. It is a little wide for a shot, but with Fabregas's delivery this is a danger for PSG...
Fabregas floats the ball into a dangerous area, with Terry attacking it at the back post, but Sirigu is there to get an important punch away and alleviate the danger.
Chelsea are enjoying a bit more of the ball inside the PSG half and you'd have to say that the visitors are narrowly on top in this game right now. An away goal would be huge for them, particularly if they can open the scoring with it.
PSG break quickly, with Ibrahimovic and Lavezzi leading the charge down the left. The speedy winger is the man who hangs a ball up into the box, but Azpilicueta is the man who meets it by putting it behind.
CHANCE! Cavani loves a run to the near post from a corner and that tactic causes problems here as Courtois is called into making a fine stop. The PSG man got a really good header to the ball and almost snuck it in at the near post despite being a long way beyond the upright, but Courtois reacted well to tip it behind for another corner.
GOAL! PSG 0-1 Chelsea (Branislav Ivanovic)
Moments after PSG have their best chance of the match, Chelsea take the lead! It is three defenders who combine as Terry collects Silva's clearance from an initial cross before putting the ball back into the middle. In truth, his delivery is not the best, but Cahill flicks it on and Ivanovic is there to nod it home from close range. What a huge goal that could prove to be in this tie.
Ivanovic has always been a very dangerous attacking defender, but he has really excelled in the goalscoring department recently. His extra-time winner against Liverpool sent Chelsea into the League Cup final, while his recent winner against Aston Villa could prove important in the title race. Now he has also scored in the Champions League and, crucially, it is an away goal. Chelsea now have a lead to protect and there aren't many better at doing that than Mourinho.
PSG really could do with a response before half time here. They have had the better of this opening 45 minutes, with headed chances for Matuidi, Ivanovic and Cavani, but they find themselves behind now.
Referee Cuneyt Cakir has a strong word with Fabregas following a late foul on Luiz, who went down dramatically. It was a borderline yellow for the Spanish playmaker, but the Turkish official keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion.
PSG have a free kick in a good position here after they swarmed Diego Costa to win the ball back in a good position. Chelsea were quick to get back, but some nice skill from Verratti sends Matic the wrong way and the Chelsea man concedes the free kick.
SHOT! Ibrahimovic pulls rank to take it off Luiz and puts plenty behind his effort, but it flies over the crossbar. The Swede went for Courtois's side, hoping to beat the keeper with the sheer power, but in the end it was a few yards too high.
HALF TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Chelsea
The referee brings an end to the first half here at the Parc des Princes and it is Chelsea who hold the advantage after the opening 45 minutes. It has been a fairly even match so far, with the hosts just about edging it, but Chelsea have got the all-important away goal that could prove to be the difference in what looks like being a close tie.
It was Ivanovic who got the goal, continuing his recent welcome habit of popping up with important strikes. He found himself as the most advanced of Chelsea's players to finish off a move created by three of their back four, with Terry's cross being kept alive by Cahill's flick before Ivanovic nodded home from close range. And just look how much it means to the right-back:
That was actually Chelsea's only real opening of the first half, with PSG creating the better of the chances before that. Perhaps the best fell to Matuidi, who ghosted into the box late on and planted a good header from Cavani's cross towards goal. It was a nice height for Courtois, however, and he made a solid save.
Just moments later Courtois was called into action once again, with Matuidi this time turning provider to sent a cross in for Ibrahimovic. The striker towered above Terry to win the header in a decent position, but he couldn't get enough power on his downward effort to really test Courtois.
Perhaps Courtois's toughest save came just a couple of minutes before Chelsea opened the scoring. Cavani made a trademark run to the near post to latch on to a corner, flicking a good header towards the corner. It was a save Courtois would have expected to make once again, but he still had to react quickly to turn it behind for a corner.
Chelsea will be pleased with their performance in that opening 45 minutes, though, and as things stand they have done everything they need. Mourinho would be happy with a draw from this match, so if they can hold out for a victory then it would be a very impressive result for the Premier League outfit and would certainly put them in pole position to qualify for the quarter-finals.
As for PSG, they will know that a response is needed in the coming 45 minutes. They led 3-1 after the first leg in last season's quarter-final and that still wasn't enough, so any failure to win tonight would leave them with a mountain to climb at Stamford Bridge next month.
KICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway in Paris as they look to hold on to this lead and put one foot into the last eight of the Champions League.
Good play from Verratti down the left as he lifts the ball over for Maxwell with some inventive play. He gets the ball back shortly afterwards and has a chance to stand a cross up into the middle, but he tries to take on three Chelsea defenders instead and is eventually crowded out.
PSG have started this second half well, controlling the ball in the early stages. Silva clips a good ball in towards Ibrahimovic inside the Chelsea box and the Swede wins the header, but Cahill makes an important interception to clear the danger.
YELLOW CARD! The first card of the evening is shown to Van der Wiel, who brought down Hazard as the Belgian was looking to spin away from the full-back.
GOAL! PSG 1-1 Chelsea (Edinson Cavani)
PSG have their equaliser, but where was the defending?! It is Matuidi who provides the cross into the middle and Cavani finds himself completely unmarked inside the area to plant a downward header into the far corner. Chelsea are normally so good at defending crosses into the box, but they made that far too easy for Cavani. Game on now!
In truth, that goal won't have changed too much for Chelsea. They will still be in no rush to push the issue as a 1-1 draw is a better result for them, but they will also want to prevent PSG from building momentum as another goal for the hosts would make things very interesting.
The pressure is starting to build a little now, with the crowd right behind the hosts as they search for a quickfire second goal. The belief around PSG is clear to see now.
CHANCES! Oh my word, how has this not gone in for PSG?! First Ibrahimovic is played through on goal following a one-two with Lavezzi and only has Courtois to beat, but the Chelsea keeper makes a crucial save with a long outstretched leg. The ball rebounds to Lavezzi in an even better position, but his shot is blocked by Azpilicueta!
The temperature is beginning to rise in this match now! Costa shows his first signs of frustration, pushing Luiz away after the PSG man had a quick word in his ear following a foul. The referee once again refuses to produce his card, though, and it is the right decision.
The momentum is certainly with PSG right now and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Mourinho make a change soon in order to just take the sting out of things. It would benefit the visitors to close this match down, especially during the next 10 minutes or so.
YELLOW CARD! Ivanovic goes into the book and he can have no complaints with this one. He lost out in a tussle with Cavani before bringing the goalscorer down with a cynical challenge.
CLOSE! From the resulting free kick PSG almost take the lead. It is Luiz who comes close against his former club, running to the near post and flicking Ibrahimovic's free kick on, but it goes narrowly over the crossbar.
The hosts have been vastly improved in this second half and are looking far more likely to get the game's third goal at the moment. They have had their chances too, and Blanc may feel hard done by if his side don't end up going on to win this match.
Ibrahimovic is starting to have a bit more of a say on the game as well, which has helped PSG to gain control of the match. He is holding the ball up well and chasing everything down, causing Cahill and Terry plenty of problems.
With a little under 20 minutes remaining, this game is still very much hanging in the balance, thanks in no small part of Cavani's equaliser. Here he is celebrating his goal:
YELLOW CARD! Fabregas is the latest name in the book for a trip on Matuidi, which also gives the hosts a free kick within shooting distance for Luiz.
Luiz's effort is drilled straight into the wall, however, which is something I'm sure Chelsea fans are well used to seeing!
UPDATE: It is still goalless in the other Champions League tie taking place tonight, with Shakhtar Donetsk holding Bayern Munich in Ukraine. The visiting German champions are down to 10 men in that match, however, with Xabi Alonso having been sent off.
Matuidi and Verratti have lived on the edged with a few of their tackles tonight, but they have battled very well in midfield. Neither can be too far from a booking, but they have done an important job for their team.
YELLOW CARD! There indeed is the booking for Verratti, who lunged into a poor challenge on Hazard. No complaints with that decision.
CHELSEA SUB: A first change for Chelsea sees Willian limp off to be replaced by Juan Cuadrado, who is making his Champions League debut.
CHANCE! Huge chance for PSG to take the lead on the night! It is lovely footwork from the goalscorer as he skips past the challenge of Matic inside the box, but he can only poke his effort inches wide of Courtois's far post.
CHELSEA SUB: The visitors make another change as Costa, who has been relatively quiet tonight, is replaced by Loic Remy.
PSG SUB: The hosts make a switch of their own as well, with Javier Pastore, who scored a late third for PSG in last season's meeting between the two sides, replaces Lavezzi.
CHELSEA SUB: Chelsea make their third and final change as Oscar comes on for Fabregas to see out the final six minutes of normal time.
Cavani goes for a spectacular second here following decent play from Pastore to keep the ball in down the left. The PSG sub hooked a high ball towards the back post and Cavani went for an acrobatic scissor kick, only to miss the ball.
The volume levels inside Parc des Princes grow once again as PSG look to build another attack. They are applying the late pressure in the search for a winner, as you'd expect, but Chelsea are doing a decent good of keeping them a safe distance from goal at the moment.
Just a minute of normal time remains and Chelsea have the ball as they look to see this one out on their own terms. This would be a very good result for them and you'd make them favourites to progress if things stay level.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first leg.
CHANCE! Big chance for PSG to grab a late winner. Maxwell hoists a long cross towards his old mate Ibrahimovic at the back post, and the Swede attacks it really well. He wins the header and nods it down towards the corner, but Courtois pulls off a stop that could prove to be every bit as important as Ivanovic's goal.
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea hold out for the draw, and they will take a decent result back to Stamford Bridge for the second leg next month despite being on the back foot for much of the second half. Branislav Ivanovic gave the visitors a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes, but Edinson Cavani's deserved equaliser after the break ensured that PSG did not fall to their first home defeat of the season. They do have an uphill task to progress to the last eight, though.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for an intriguing contest between two teams with realistic hopes of going far in this competition this season. It is advantage Chelsea ever so slightly following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, meaning that they will take an away goal back to West London. 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!