Chelsea will have a mountain to climb when they host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday at 8pm.
The Blues were beaten 5-2 by PSG in the first leg of their last-16 tie, and history is against their quarter-final hopes. The Champions League holders have only been knocked out of the competition having winning the first leg by as many as three goals once before.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs PSG
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro.
Liam Rosenior’s side were also beaten at the weekend in the Premier League, falling 1-0 at home to Newcastle United.
Chelsea team news vs PSG
Jamie Gittens has suffered another setback in his return from injury. The Englishman was meant to the return to the bench at the weeeknd, but he had a minor hamstring issue. Gittens is now not expected to make the visit of PSG.
But Estevao should be available for selection, after a hamstring injury of his own. Saturday was deemed too soon for the Brazilian, but this game was named as a potential for his return.
Pedro Neto is available after serving a domestic suspension at the weekend. He’s expected to return to the starting XI, forming part of the attacking lineup alongside Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro.
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Filip Jorgensen missed the defeat to Newcastle with an injury which continues to hamper him, but he may have lost his spot to Robert Sanchez after his errors in the first leg. There will be another forced chance from the weekend, though.
Chelsea suffered a huge blow in Reece James picking up a hamstring injury. The Chelsea captain could be out for at least a few weeks. Malo Gusto was missing from training on Monday but that was due to illness. Should he be healthy, the Frenchman is likely to partner Moises Caicedo in midfield, with Andrey Santos out of favour after his late error against Burnley. Josh Acheampong would then continue at right-back, with Marc Cucurella on the left.
Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana remain the first-choice centre-back pairing, despite their poor form. Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Mamadou Sarr are the other options. Levi Colwill remains out injured despite returning to training.
History against Chelsea
Things aren’t looking good for Chelsea. The Blues are three goals down on aggregate, a deficit that hasn’t often been overturned in the Champions League.
PSG were on the receiving end of one such comeback. The French side were 4-0 up in the first leg of their last-16 tie against Barcelona in 2016-17, but lost the return fixture 6-1.
There are only three more occasions in which a team has overcome a three-goal deficit after the first leg of a Champions League tie. Roma did it against Barcelona in 2017-18, Liverpool also did it against Barcelona in 2018-19, while Deportivo La Coruna came from three down against AC Milan in 2003-04 — when the Italian side were the holders.
But, Chelsea are winless in their last five Champions League games against PSG, drawing two and losing three. PSG are also unbeaten in their last five games against English teams in the Champions League, with four wins.