Chelsea suffer humbling Champions League exit against PSG

Chelsea 0

Paris St-Germain 3

Kvaratskhelia (6′)
Barcola (14′)
Mayulu (62′)

Paris St-Germain won 8-2 on aggregate

Chelsea’s defensive shortcomings were ruthlessly exposed as holders Paris St-Germain swept them aside to cruise into the quarter-finals of the Champions League by a six-goal aggregate margin.

The Blues were trailing 5-2 from the first leg and any hope of a second-leg comeback at Stamford Bridge disappeared when they conceded two early goals, scored by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola.

Senny Mayulu added another goal for the French side just after the hour mark, and Chelsea ended the match with 10 men after Trevoh Chalobah was stretchered off late on with what looked like a very serious injury, with head coach Liam Rosenior having made all his allocated substitutes.

There were boos around the Bridge on a hugely disappointing night for Chelsea, who could not afford the kind of early defensive mistake which helped PSG extend their aggregate lead after just six minutes.

Mamadou Sarr, under pressure from Kvaratskhelia, made a total mess of trying to deal with keeper Matvei Safonov’s long punt, enabling the Georgian forward to run through on goal and slot past keeper Robert Sanchez.

And when Chelsea gave the ball away in midfield, PSG counter-attacked, Achraf Hakimi scampered forward and played the ball towards the edge of the penalty area, where Barcola fired home.

The third goal also came after the hosts lost possession in midfield. Andrey Santos was the guilty party, Kvaratskhelia raced down the left and picked out Hakimi, whose shot was blocked, with Mayulu pouncing on the loose ball and smashing into the net.

Chelsea: Sánchez; Hato, Sarr (Acheampong 46), Chalobah, Cucurella (Adarabioyo 71); Caicedo, Andrey Santos; Palmer (Garnacho 60), Fernandez (Lavia 60), Neto; Joao Pedro (Delap 60).
Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Merrick, Fofana, Guiu, Estevao, Mheuka, Kavuma-McQueen.