Chelsea 2:0 PSG

Chelsea 2:0 PSG, 08/04/14, Stamford Bridge, London

Mourinho was without suspended Ramires and cup-tied Matic for this game, so Lampard and Luiz paired in the middle. Etoo was fit to start from the beginning and replaced Schurlle up front.

Blanc would probably name the same XI as last week, but Ibrahimovic is out for a few weeks. Lucas came into the side, playing on the right and Cavani moving central.

Starting XI - Hazard replaced by Schurlle after 18 minues

Chelsea down the left

Both managers named expected starting XIs and both stuck with their usual formations. However, teams approached the game in the opposite way compared to last week as Chelsea had to chase the game and PSG looked to protect the lead from the first meeting between them.

Everyone thought Etoo might come off early in the game as Mourinho decided to gamble on his fitness, but it was Hazard who was forced out of the pitch because of an injury. Schurlle came on for him after 18 minutes, but the substitution had no impact on Chelsea´s tactics.

As last week and more or less, throughout the whole season, Chelsea attackers shown how versatile they are. Etoo stayed up top, but the three players behind him were changing positions very often and they were creating space for each other cleverly.

Since PSG had three central midfielders sitting deeper than usual, Chelsea tried to play through the sides. The seemed to focus attacks down the left, where they won a few fouls and created danger from set-pieces. It made sense to target that side of the pitch as trio of Jallet-Alex-Verratti doesn´t have a quality and physicality of Maxwell-Silva-Matuidi on the other side.

Chelsea- fouls suffered- 1st half

PSG too cautious

It´s understandable PSG wanted the game to be slow and don´t allow Chelsea to get into the tempo and create pressure, but they created problems for themselves with unnecessary fouls in the dangerous areas. With four players used to play centerbacks, Chelsea were likely to create chances from free kicks and long throws into the penatly box. Sirigu made a great save to keep out Lampard´s free kick, although it took a big deflection on the way. Opening goal came from a long throw when Luiz won a header and ball fell to Schurlle who wasn´t covered by Lucas. Only minutes later, Cahill had a good chance after another free kick, but didn´t hit the ball properly.

PSG didn´t offer too much going forward in the first half simply because there wasn´t enough support from the midfielders. Matuidi made no runs towards the left wing, which caused Chelsea big problems in the first game. Both him and Verratti didn´t move forward when they could and stayed quite close to Motta most of the time. They kept the ball well in the middle, but Chelsea were able to get enough players behind the ball to deal with their slow attacks. PSG´s most promising moment came when Lavezzi drifted inside from the flank and managed to dribble past multiple opponents before returning the ball to the flank where Maxwell made a good run, but sent in a poor cross. Lavezzi changed position with Cavani and tried to make runs behind the defence, but couldn´t get the right ball and was flagged offside 2 or 3 times.

Second half

PSG were much more proactive right from the 46th minute and started to involve more players when attacking. Chelsea even managed to create a big chance on the counter when Verratti lost a ball. The ball eventually got to Schurlle who hit the bar. PSG weren´t able to clear the rebound, Etoo won a foul and Oscar hit the bar again from a free kick.

With more players joining attacks, PSG created some promising situations. Matuidi won a free kick on the left wing and Lavezzi played a dangerous ball in, but Cech pushed it out for the corner. Lucas had a decent shot from outside the box – in the lead up to that shot, PSG combined well around the area with 5 or 6 players involved. Best chances however, came after long diagonal balls behind the defence. First Matuidi found Cavani who took a shot on the volley, but it was a difficult angle to score from. Cavani had even bigger chance just a few minutes later when Cabaye played a perfect long ball to him, but his shot went just over the bar. You would expect player of his quality to finish that, even though the shot was taken with his weaker foot. 

Subs - Plan B and plan C for Chelsea

Mourinho prepared his players for every possibility and at 1:0 up and half an hour left, he made his second change of the night. Ba came on for Lampard, which caused numerous changes in positions. Willian dropped deeper alongside Luiz, Ba went up front, where he provided aerial threat while Schurlle, Oscar and Etoo rotated behind him. With Ba on top, Chelsea looked to play more long balls and crosses towards him. Only couple of minutes after his introduction, he won a header for Schurlle who had his shot saved.

With 10 minutes to go, Mourinho brought on another striker. Oscar was replaced by Torres and it was all attack for Chelsea. Fullbacks pushed higher and both Etoo and Torres played closer to Ba. 

It paid off. After another long ball into the penalty area, PSG were unable to clear and Azpilicueta´s deflected shot fell into path of Ba who guided the ball behind Sirigu from a close range. 

Chelsea in the last 10 minutes

Blanc has used all of his substitutes prior to the goal as PSG were looking to hold on. Cabaye came on for Verratti as a strait swop. Lavezzi was replaced by Pastore who stayed on the right. Eventually, Marquinos came on for Lucas and played alongside Motta in front of centerbacks.

PSG in the last 10 minutes

Conclusion

Chelsea didn´t have a best game, but they really played into their strengths. They didn´t have space for counter attacks, but repeatedly found space in the wide areas where they won free kicks, throw ins and created few dangerous situations.  Mourinho was forced to make an early change, but used his remaining substitutions well, increasing number of attacking players around the PSG´s penalty area and Chelsea scored the kind of goal he was probably hoping for.

On the other hand, PSG didn´t play into their strengths at all. Without Ibrahimovic, there was no one in front to hold the ball and cause Chelsea defenders some trouble.  They tried to slow the tempo down and not leaving space for Chelsea to break into, but they relied too much on the attacking trio as central midfielders stayed behind the ball most of the time.  More players pushed forward in the second half, but they didn´t trouble Chelsea too much, especially in the wide areas. Cavani could have sent them into the semi-finals, but once Chelsea got their second, there wasn´t enough time and attacking options to get that one away goal. 

Highlights: Chelsea 2:0 PSG