Di Maria, who managed to find space in between the Chelsea lines, spied the run of Lucas down the right, and the Brazilian’s deep cross was met by the head of Ibrahimovic – Thibault Courtois was right behind the striker’s effort with just over half-an-hour gone.
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LONDON, March 9 Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the victor in Paris St Germain’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday that sent the French team into the Champions League quarter-finals. They have achieved exactly that feat before, when lifting the European Cup for the only time in their history, despite finishing outside the Premier League’s top four, in 2012. “Being eliminated in the Champions League would be a bit of a disaster”.
Diego Costa had looked like being the night’s hero after an all-action display and cancelling out Adrien Rabiot’s opener. It wasn’t a man of the match performance by any means, but Kenedy still did well to shake off that rough start and put in a good shift in a huge match for his team.
For the third season in succession, the reigning Ligue 1 and Premier League champions have been paired together in the knockout rounds, with each side claiming a slender away goals aggregate triumph apiece so far.
Terry was not expected to feature after manager Guus Hiddink said on Sunday: “I don’t think John will make it on Wednesday”.
“They have to see how to go on and try to regain the lost terrain where Chelsea used to be”. Chelsea won the quarter-final tie in 2014 on away goals, but were defeated at the last-16 stage in 2015 by the same method. We had more chances but it was enough to win the game.
Instead, they bowed out meekly, with Hazard coming off injured to a smattering of boos and a deathly gloom descending over Stamford Bridge.
“I’m very proud of him the way he’s playing and, going not over the edge, but he likes to fight in the real way of the game”, the Dutchman said. They have so far progressed once each (Chelsea in 2013/14, PSG in 2014/15). What I like to see very much is not just a quality player, but a player who can defend so smoothly. “It can give another image to Chelsea”.
How Chelsea would relish the complete dominance of PSG. We can’t stop now.
“Willian… has improved month after month and season after season”, said Cahill who will continue to partner stand-in captain Branislav Ivanovic at centre half in the absence of hamstring injury-victim John Terry.
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Eden Hazard and Willian will play on the flanks while Diego Costa is set for a recall after taking part in full training today having missed the Stoke game at the weekend with a minor groin complaint.
