Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 2-1 on the night at 4-2 on
aggregate in the Champions League as Zlatan Ibrahimovic made one goal
and scored the winner.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed a
gripping 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to send Paris
Saint-Germain into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The
Sweden superstar created the opening goal for Adrien Rabiot and, after
half-time, he scored for a fourth consecutive Champions League match to
secure a repeat of the first-leg scoreline in Paris.
As
in the French capital, Chelsea gave the runaway Ligue 1 leaders plenty
to think about and Diego Costa's all-action performance was deserving of
his 27th-minute equaliser.
But the Spain
international limped off with an apparent calf injury and, sensing a
loss of impetus from Chelsea, Laurent Blanc's men struck.
Ibrahimovic
was sent off before his team-mates secured a memorable extra-time
triumph over Chelsea in the same round last season.
But
he made no mistake on the end of Angel Di Maria's 67th-minute cross,
granting him the centre-stage he so often craves and occupies as PSG
progressed.
Costa was the focus of plenty of
pre-match attention from the PSG camp and he forced a third-minute save
from Kevin Trapp after the visitors' defence failed to pass their way
out of trouble.
At the other end, Branislav
Ivanovic slid to clear Di Maria's attempt from the goalmouth as a
slaloming run from Lucas Moura cut through Chelsea.
Ibrahimovic
converted from an offside position from the resulting corner before his
incisive piece of play crafted PSG's 16th-minute opener.
The
34-year-old peeled away to the right to collect Di Maria's pass and his
low cross was scrambled home by the on-rushing Rabiot.
It
initially appeared Chelsea would struggle to respond, but they were
level 11 minutes later when Pedro dispossessed Thiago Motta and Willian
found Costa, who checked inside past Thiago Silva and steered
left-footed into the bottom corner.
Guus Hiddink's
decision to select the attack-minded Kenedy at full-back continued to
afford PSG opportunities down the Chelsea left, with Ibrahimovic
powering a header from Lucas' cross into Thibaut Courtois' arms.
Trapp
was relieved not to be punished for spilling a Costa shot, while the
already booked Motta was a touch fortunate not to see red before
half-time for a high challenge on Cesc Fabregas.
Willian
got the better of Marquinhos down the left early in the second
half,??but a third Brazilian, David Luiz, was on hand to block Costa's
shot.
Unfortunately for the hosts, as a compelling
contest approached the hour, Costa's excellent individual display was
cut short, with in-form youngster Bertrand Traore on in his place.
Raboit
broke up play in the Chelsea half to play in Ibrahimovic, although the
latter's normally impeccable touch was not up to standard and Courtois
narrowed the angle well.
Trapp got down sharply to
deny the lively Willian in the 65th minute and the German goalkeeper
was alert to keep out Eden Hazard's follow-up.
Those
saves soon appeared even more valuable when Motta made up for his part
in the equaliser with a sumptuous return ball to Di Maria.
Granted
space in the inside left channel, the Argentina international
ruthlessly picked his cross for Ibrahimovic to thump in PSG's 100th goal
of the season with a close-range volley.
Ibrahimovic
was unable to bundle home a second with 10 minute to play, but, as
Chelsea were forced to confront their probable absence from next
season's Champions League, the match-winner left the possibility of a
dream farewell from PSG on the table.
Key Opta stats:
Chelsea lost a Champions League match at Stamford Bridge for the first time since April 2014 versus ??Atletico Madrid.
- PSG are the first French team to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in four consecutive seasons.
- Costa has scored in each of his last five games at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea; his best run for the Blues.
- Ibrahimovic scored his 50th goal in European competition (incl. qualifiers).
- Seven of the last 13 Champions League goals that Chelsea have conceded have come against PSG.
- PSG are the fourth team in Europe's top five leagues to score 100 goals in all competitions this season alongside Barcelona (132), Real Madrid (107) and Borussia Dortmund (103).
- PSG are the first French team to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in four consecutive seasons.
- Costa has scored in each of his last five games at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea; his best run for the Blues.
- Ibrahimovic scored his 50th goal in European competition (incl. qualifiers).
- Seven of the last 13 Champions League goals that Chelsea have conceded have come against PSG.
- PSG are the fourth team in Europe's top five leagues to score 100 goals in all competitions this season alongside Barcelona (132), Real Madrid (107) and Borussia Dortmund (103).
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