Chelsea vs PSG preview: Zlatan’s absence could be blessing in disguise

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  • Key man: Lucas is likely to start against Chelsea with Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled out.

    Paris Saint-Germain will equal their best ever performance in the Champions League on Tuesday if they capitalize on a 3-1 win in the first leg and knock Chelsea out of the competition.

    In fact both sides have the chance to make history, such is the unlikelihood of a turnaround by John Terry's team-mates on Tuesday.

    Statistics determine that the French side have a 76% chance of progressing, and the side's 3-0 home victory on Saturday against Reims will comfort fans as their squad travels to Stamford Bridge.

    A Lucas Moura masterclass ensured Laurent Blanc's men would fully focus on their trip to London; their thirteen-point lead over AS Monaco at the top of the Ligue 1 table having all but sealed a second consecutive domestic title.

    The Chelsea staff monitoring their rivals will not have found reasons for optimism as the Parisians' cruised to a win with a second-string side.

    On Tuesday, they will enter the pitch confident in their abilities, looking to secure as much possession as possible in the opening stages of the game. Star striker Ibrahimovic will be missing after picking up a thigh injury in the home leg that will see him sidelined for four weeks.

    However, his absence might prove a blessing in disguise for PSG as it may allow Lucas Moura to start on the right wing and show the entirety of his talents.

    The Brazilian attacking midfielder is hitting peak form at the most opportune time, having made a remarkable appearance off the bench in the first leg. Facing the likes of Willian and Oscar, both of whom he competes against for a World Cup berth, the spectacular 21-year-old will have a unique chance to impress Luiz Felipe Scolari just two months before the World Cup.

    Though Edinson Cavani, displayed on the right wing, proved instrumental in nullifying Eden Hazard last week, his come-back as centre-forward will pose a new challenge to the Terry-Cahill partnership that looked too comfortable at times marking Zlatan Ibrahimovic last week.

    The Uruguay striker will be keen to fight off personal demons at Stamford Bridge, having been part of the Napoli side who came to London two years ago basking in the glory of a 3-1 lead after one leg, only to go out of the competition a couple of hours and a dramatic extra-time later.

    Altogether, PSG are motivated and well-balanced, able to secure possession when required, or hit Chelsea on the counter if needed.

    Jose Mourinho, who insisted on keeping a positive mindset in the build-up to the game, knows his squad reached its limits at Parc des Princes last week, when a passive defensive line surrendered in the dying minutes of the game to let Javier Pastore score a decisive goal.

    Though authoritative at times, the Chelsea midfield was in all sorts of pain throughout the second half after Schurrle's exit. The German was included in the starting eleven as a striker, but spent his hour on the pitch relieved of attacking duties, focused on chasing the PSG back line.

    The Parisians scored minutes after he went out for Fernando Torres, and closed it out easily in the end. The Spaniard's cameo may have persuaded Mourinho to line up Samuel Eto'o on Tuesday, a day after the striker came back to training from a thigh injury.

    It is difficult to picture an ageing Eto'o (who turned 33 last month) get the upper hand on a peaking Thiago Silva (29), whose careless conceding of a penalty at Parc des Princes was made up for by a faultless performance thourgout the rest of the evening. 

    Few observers will have Chelsea coming back from a two-goal deficit with an attack that has repeatedly let Mourinho down in 2014, and facing the first side to score three goals past Petr Cech this calendar year. 

    PSG learned to stay cautious against unexpected turnarounds in the domestic league and have it all in their hands. Having scored in all their Champions League games so far this season, they are the favorites to make it to the semi-finals.

    Jose Mourinho on the other hand is keen to retain hope, aware that a successful outcome would rank highly both in his side's and his own personal European history

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