Paris and Chelsea matched again
Monday, December 14, 2015
Article summary
Paris and Chelsea will meet for the third successive season, with Laurent Blanc describing the Blues as "a great team with a great manager" despite their domestic travails.
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Article body
First leg: Paris v Chelsea, Tuesday 16 February (20.45CET)
Second leg: Chelsea v Paris, Wednesday 9 March (20.45CET)
Reaction
Laurent Blanc, Paris coach
It will be a great tie between two great teams, but before then we have lots of matches to prepare for, especially in January, a tough month for us. I hope every player in the team will be fit to play Chelsea and achieve our goal.
We showed last season that we were competitive; we still are this year. Even though Chelsea are going through a challenging time, they're still a great side with a great manager.
Analysis
- Chelsea and Paris have met in each of the last two campaigns, the former winning their 2013/14 quarter-final and Paris prevailing in last term's round of 16 on away goals.
- Two seasons ago, Chelsea recovered from a 3-1 first-leg loss in Paris to triumph 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and progress on away goals.
- It was also 3-3 on aggregate in 2014/15 but this time it was Paris celebrating after a 1-1 home draw followed by a 2-2 result in London took the French side through.
- Chelsea had the better of things in the 2004/05 group stage, winning 3-0 in Paris – John Terry opening the scoring – before a 0-0 home draw.
- That 2014 home victory against Chelsea is Paris's sole success against English teams in their last eight fixtures.
- Chelsea have lost just four of their 14 games against Ligue 1 clubs – all those defeats coming away from home.