UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PSG 2-1 CHELSEA

Chelsea's most memorable moments in Europe have a tendency to hinge on some sort of triumph against adversity. The Champions League win in 2012 rested upon a remarkable last-16 turnaround against Napoli and and unlikely away win at Camp Nou.

Flickers of the resilience on show over the course of that triumphant campaign were evident in the 2-1 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain and the bravery of a Branislav Ivanovic block may just have...
guaranteed that Chelsea remain in this tie, heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea competed manfully against a club emerging as one of Europe's new elite, putting a troubled domestic campaign to one side and attempting to reassert their quality at the highest level. PSG's league campaign has markedly differed to their opponents, aiming to wrap up Ligue 1 in record time and further increasing their dominance over traditional French rivals.

Where Chelsea have regressed, PSG have developed, allowing them to head into the tie as strong favourites. They may have won but the Blues' rugged defending meant that this was not the domineering performance that many thought would truly announce PSG as a heavyweight continental contender.

Heading into the match, the certainty of PSG victory only ever increased. John Terry did not travel to Paris, remaining in London to continue to assess a hamstring strain. Kurt Zouma suffered the painful twang of knee ligaments against Manchester United, ruling him out until next season, and Nemanja Matic missed out through suspension.




With the two first-choice centre-backs on the treatment table, Ivanovic and Gary Cahill were tasked with keeping at bay PSG's array of attacking talent. The pair failed to keep a clean sheet but a combined effort produced a spectacular block to keep out a clear-cut Blaise Matuidi chance, illustrating the resoluteness that characterised much of Chelsea's defending. That block and a number of smart saves from Thibaut Courtois ensured that the tie is far from being decided.

As crucial as the makeshift defensive partnership proved, John Obi Mikel's first-half goal could prove the key to progression, should Chelsea eventually overcome PSG. Enjoying an unlikely renaissance under Guus Hiddink, Mikel has re-emerged as a cult hero at Stamford Bridge, remaining a permanent feature in the squad despite the regular change of managers and playing staff. His goal atoned for poor work as part of the Chelsea wall, turning his back and inadvertently deflecting Zlatan Ibrahimovic's free-kick beyond Courtois, but demonstrated the resilience needed to recover from the sort of setback that Edinson Cavani's winner provided.