Draw in Paris sets Blues up for second leg

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Paris St-Germain 1 Chelsea 1

Edinson Cavani netted a second-half equaliser after Branislav Ivanovic’s potentially crucial away goal for Chelsea in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg in Paris.

Defender Ivanovic continued his remarkable knack of scoring important goals when he headed home following John Terry’s ball in from the left.

But Cavani’s header brought Paris St-Germain level and left the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on 11 March.

Ivanovic’s opener came slightly against the run of play, with Thibaut Courtois, back in the Chelsea side, having kept out three headers – two of them from Cavani – during a bright start by the French team.

Courtois dived to his right to save Blaise Matuidi’s powerful header after Cavani had lifted the ball into the penalty area.

Cavani then headed straight at the Blues keeper after Matuidi turned provider, drifting out to the left and serving up an excellent cross towards the PSG striker.

Courtois was called into action again on 34 minutes, this time to deal with Cavani’s near-post header from Ezequiel Lavezzi’s right-wing corner.

Three minutes later Chelsea were ahead. Gary Cahill flicked on Terry’s cross with the outside of his right boot and Ivanovic was well placed to score his fifth goal of the season – and his first in Europe since his winner in the 2013 Europa League Final.

But the Matuidi-Cavani combination eventually paid off for the hosts nine minutes into the second half.

Matuidi’s cross from the left went over Cahill and Cavani made no mistake from close range.

PSG almost went ahead when Courtois denied Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lavezzi’s goal-bound follow-up was blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta.

David Luiz then bought a save from the busy Courtois, who tipped over the former Chelsea man’s header from Lavezzi’s free-kick.

And the dangerous Cavani poked a shot wide and had an injury-time header palmed out by Courtois as Jose Mourinho’s men hung on for the draw.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian (Cuadrado 79), Fabregas (Oscar 83), Hazard; Costa (Remy 81).
Subs not used: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Drogba.

 

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