Chelsea travel to face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 first leg at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.
The Blues were victorious in their last meeting, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final last summer, when Cole Palmer inspired them to a 3-0 victory in the United States.
PSG followed a similar path as last season, going through the knockout playoffs to secure their spot in the last 16 before winning the competition for the first time.
This season, Luis Enrique’s team has not won in their last five games and currently sits 11th in the table after draws and losses against Athletic Bilbao (0-0), Sporting Lisbon (2-1), and Newcastle United (1-1).
After facing fellow French team Monaco in the playoffs, PSG had a tough challenge but managed to win 5-4 on aggregate, drawing 2-2 at home in the second leg two weeks ago.
Chelsea had qualified automatically, saving them the stress of the playoffs, which would have added an extra two games.
Since securing their place in the last 16, PSG have had mixed results at home. They won 1-0 away against Le Havre but then lost 3-1 at home to Monaco, marking their second league defeat in two months.
Their current form has allowed second-placed Lens to reduce the gap at the summit to just one point with nine games left to play.
PSG’s match against Nantes this weekend has been postponed so they can focus fully on their 14th straight last-16 Champions League tie, aiming to win a two-legged tie in Europe’s top club competition for the sixth time in a row.
PSG also have a good record against English sides, losing just one of their last eight games against Premier League opposition in UEFA competition, and have won their last three two-legged ties against Premier League sides, all in last season’s Champions League when they knocked out Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal in the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals respectively.
Five of the six English clubs reached the top eight, and Chelsea was among them.
Liam Rosenior’s side finished sixth in the 36-team League Phase standings, winning five, drawing one, and losing two of their eight matches.
The Blues have been on good form in the competition, having come back from 2-0 to defeat Napoli 3-2 on matchday eight, and have won five of their last nine games across three different domestic competitions.
The Blues recently thrashed Aston Villa 4-1 in the Premier League and then needed extra time to beat Wrexham 4-2 in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
The London club aims to finish in the Premier League’s top five and make a deep run in the Champions League, which they last won in 2021.
Before managing Chelsea, Rosenior had mixed results against PSG during his 18 months in charge of Strasbourg, with one win, one draw, and one loss in Ligue 1. His last game against them was a 2-1 home win over the defending champions.
Chelsea have a strong record against Ligue 1 teams. They won their last six UEFA games against French clubs and two of their last five two-legged ties against Ligue 1 sides.
They have also won their last three Champions League last-16 ties and 13 of their last 16 UEFA two-legged ties.
As the teams prepare to face each other, several key PSG players are injured. Fabian Ruiz (knee), Quentin Ndjantou (hamstring), and Joao Neves (ankle) are among those sidelined.
Enrique will decide whether to keep Illia Zabarnyi and William Pacho as centre-backs or bring back captain Marquinhos, who has been on the bench for the last two games.
He might give Ousmane Dembele some playing time later in the match, as Dembele missed PSG’s Ligue 1 loss to Monaco and the three games before that due to a calf injury.
He could start the Ballon d’Or winner alongside Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in attack.
Injuries have limited the French attack, which has scored a joint team-high 11 goals this season.
Chelsea will miss Estevao, Willian, Jamie Gittens (both with hamstring injuries), Levi Colwill (ACL), and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended).
Wesley Fofana, recovering from a thigh injury, is expected to return and partner Trevoh Chalobah at centre-back.
Rosenior is likely to have Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield. Palmer should play on the right flank, with in-form Joao Pedro replacing Liam Delap up front. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho will compete for the left-wing spot.
