As part of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Chelsea this Wednesday evening.

PSG's lineup against Chelsea: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos (c), Pacho, Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doué, Dembélé, Barcola.

PSG's bench: Chevalier, Renato Marin, Beraldo, L. Hernandez, Zabarnyi, Dro, Kang In, Mayulu, Kvaratskhelia, Mbaye, G. Ramos.

Chelsea's lineup against PSG: Jörgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, James (c), Enzo Fernandez; Palmer, João Pedro, Neto.

Chelsea's bench: Merrick, Sanchez, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Andrey Santos, Sarr, Hato, Acheampong, Guiu, Lavia, Garnacho.

PSG kicked off and played long, without success, despite the pressure. The Blues pressed high immediately, and Paris tried to build play (2nd minute). The start of the match was choppy, and Doué stamped on Caicedo's foot (3'). Neves conceded a very foolish throw-in, James crossed, and João Pedro missed his attempt alone from 6 meters out (5'). Doué recovered an excellent ball on the right side. He crossed, but Dembélé missed his attempt. Immediately after, Neves shot from distance, but Jörgensen caught it (5').

On the following action, Chelsea earned two corners in quick succession, but Paris defended well (7'). At the end of a strong spell, PSG opened the scoring: Dembélé was found on the right side, he crossed long to the far post for Neves, who laid it off to Barcola, who controlled with his chest and fired a powerful shot with his left foot under the crossbar (1-0, 10').

Paris continued to push, but Chelsea was dangerous on a counterattack. Enzo ultimately shot over from 18 meters out (14').

Dembélé and Doué combined on the left side of the penalty area. The Ballon d'Or winner sent a fierce left-footed shot that the goalkeeper deflected onto the post (15'). Chelsea responded with an ultra-fast attack, Neto dominated Marquinhos and crossed into the 6-yard box, Mendes made a saving clearance but nearly scored an own goal (18').

Little by little, Chelsea got back into the match and applied pressure, forcing Parisian errors (20'). Paris gave away balls, and Cucurella recovered the ball very high up the pitch. He crossed, Pedro headed, but Safonov caught it easily (24'). On a quick play, Doué was found inside the area, he dribbled then shot but was blocked (25'). Barcola ignited the left wing, then shot. Jorgensen stretched to prevent the 2-0 (26').

Chelsea punished an error from Nuno Mendes, who had gone to the right side. Fernandez switched play and found Gusto, who was alone: he controlled and then aimed for Safonov, who touched it but couldn't keep it out (1-1, 27').

As the match had gradually become balanced, Chelsea had a big chance with a shot inside the area superbly saved by Safonov, Hakimi cleared and found Doué ahead of him, he sent Dembélé toward goal, he feinted the pass to Hakimi, then dribbled and shot victoriously (2-1, 40').

Paris finished the first half very strongly, but the very permissive referee gave them room to breathe before the referee blew for halftime. The second half started with the same players, and Vitinha came very close to finding Nuno Mendes in a very good position (46'). Palmer worked well against Neves inside the area and passed, but the Portuguese player made a superb recovery (50'). The second act was balanced and played out in midfield (53'). A good Parisian move ended with a poor cross from Hakimi (54').

Doué produced a big move on the right side; he got past Chalobah but was caught by Caicedo inside the area (57'). Chelsea equalized again: a poor cross-field ball from Nuno Mendes, Neto recovered ahead of Doué, he went toward the goal, left Marquinhos behind, and pulled the ball back for Enzo Fernandez, who crucified Safonov (2-2, 57').

PSG tried to respond, and Kvara replaced Doué, but he was stopped immediately by Caicedo (65'). The two teams neutralized each other in midfield from then on (71'). After giving away two goals, PSG scored one from a gift: Barcola intercepted a clearance from the goalkeeper, the ball fell to Kvara, who laid it off to Vitinha, the Portuguese player struck a classy lob (3-2, 74').

Immediately after, Kvara went on a dribbling run and came very close to a crazy breakthrough, but Fofana saved with a corner (76'). It floated but was cleared. João Pedro thought he had equalized on a quick move after a cross, but he was offside by the slightest margin, VAR confirmed it (79'). Just after coming on, Delap found himself well through, but he shot carelessly (84'). Paris ignited the match, and Kvara was found on the left side. He cut inside and then sent a fierce shot into the far bottom corner (4-2, 86').

Kvara was unleashed like a force on the left side. He got carried away, then played after the whistle and was booked (88'). PSG scored a 5-2 goal through Lee after a pressing move, but Nuno Mendes was offside at the start (90'). Big tension at the end of the match: Neto shoved a ball boy, and a brawl nearly broke out (92'). Neto apologized and amazingly got away without even a card.

PSG finally scored a fifth goal from a crazy move: Lee released Vitinha, who laid it off to the onrushing Hakimi. He went all the way to the penalty area, then pulled the ball back for Kvara. The shot was not great, but it went in anyway (5-2, 94').

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