Chelsea crumbled to a damaging 5-2 defeat at PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.The Blues matched the current Champions League holders for much of the game and twice came from behind to level.
But a goalkeeping howler from Filip Jorgensen allowed Vitinha to score in the 74th minute and sparked a spectacular collapse from Liam Rosenior’s side, giving them with a mountain to climb in next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Just four teams from 51 have qualified for the next round of a Champions League knockout game when losing the first leg by three or more goals.
Deportivo v Milan in 2003-04
Barcelona v PSG in 2016-17
Roma v PSG in 2017-18
Liverpool v Barcelona in 2018-19
“We didn’t react well to a setback,” the Chelsea boss told TNT Sports. “At 3-2 we are in the tie. Then Kvaratskhelia scores an unbelievable strike and that happens. At this level, there are quality of players on both sides.”The fifth goal is after a flashpoint. We don’t keep our heads in that moment, we don’t keep our cool. They break our press and score a fifth goal. It makes it very difficult to come back from but it’s not impossible.”
PSG were under pressure after being beaten by Monaco on Friday, with some of their players under scrutiny for not performing at their best this season. One of those was Bradley Barcola, who answered his critics by smashing home the opener via the underside of the crossbar.
Bradley Barcola scored his first UEFA Champions League goal since February 2025 against Brest, ending a run of 17 appearances without scoring in the competition. He has scored in three consecutive appearances for PSG in all competitions for the first time since January 2025.
Chelsea deserved to equalise though – despite lacking a finishing touch at times – and made the breakthrough just before the half-hour. Barcola was caught napping as an unmarked Malo Gusto’s shot bobbled goalwards, Matvei Safonov getting a hand on the ball as it bounced past him and in.
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Ousmane Dembele celebrates his goal against Chelsea
PSG retook the lead five minutes before half-time. Fourteen seconds after Cole Palmer saw a header saved by the goalkeeper, the hosts hit Chelsea on the break. Ousmane Dembele bamboozled Wesley Fofana at the top of the box before firing past Jorgensen.A quiet start to the second half soon sprang into…
2026-03-11 22:24:00
