Qualified with forceps during the play-offs against AS Monaco (3-2, 2-2), Paris Saint-Germain did not really approach the money time of the Champions League with full confidence. Last year, the future winner of the 2025 edition launched his season by showing himself attractive and efficient from January onwards. This year, things were different before kick-off against Chelsea. The Rouge et Bleu were reunited with the team with which they had concluded their season on July 13, 2025, but unlike the Blues, the Ile-de-France residents gave the impression of being exhausted physically and mentally after a marathon 2024-2025 exercise and an express sequence, without preparation or major reinforcements in the transfer window, with the 2025-2026 season. Since the start of the season, Luis Enrique has had to manage playing time and many of his players have been in and out of the infirmary. For this round of 16 first leg of C1, the Spanish coach also had to call on Fabian Ruiz, one of the metronomes in the middle who has been unavailable since January 20. Which did not prevent him from fielding an almost typical team with Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Neves, Barcola, Dembélé and Doué. Uncertain, Neves and Dembélé were there. Opposite, after finishing 6th in the ranking, Chelsea approached this meeting in an ideal role against the title holders. The Blues proved that they knew how to thwart the Parisians in the final of the Club World Cup (3-0) and they recruited Liam Rosenior who had already managed to seriously annoy PSG when he was in charge of Strasbourg.
Faced with this overall observation of PSG’s summer of form, the start of the match for the Ile-de-France residents was logically scrutinized. A first thrill ran through the Parc des Princes from the 4th minute on a cross from James past Safonov’s goal, but it was Paris who finally “surprised” everyone. After a long shot from Neves (5th), Marquinhos’ partners put the Blues under pressure with hellish pressing symbolized by Neves’ individual marking on Palmer. Paris had a lot of good intentions and was finally rewarded by opening the scoring with a gem from Bradley Barcola on a header from Neves (1-0, 10th). Paris found its legs and Barcola finally scored in the Champions League after a drought of 17 matches in the competition. Enough to suggest that we had found PSG from last season. Five minutes after opening the score, DembĂ©lĂ© could even have doubled the lead without a miracle save from Jorgensen, who sent the leather onto his crossbar (15th). But this Parisian highlight has logically exhausted the red and blue reserves. Chelsea then took advantage of this and the Blues clearly targeted the Ile-de-France right side to place their attacks, the fault of a fairly high Hakimi and a Marquinhos who was slower than Pacho.
Thunderous entrance to Kvaratskhelia
A profitable choice that Pedro almost exploited twice (18th, 20th). It was also a cross from the London left which put Neto in a position to score with a header (23rd). Less dominant, PSG suffered and mainly relied on brilliant shots to hit the mark. What Barcola could have done with a powerful curling shot without another high-class save from Jorgensen (25th). Paris remained in its match, before making a big mistake. Having left to play a ball on a sideline on the opposite side, Mendes forgot to take his place on the following action. Result: Gusto found himself all alone at the far post to equalize (1-1, 28th). A hard blow for Paris given the start of the match. Chelsea then thought they had done the hardest part. The Londoners could even have crucified their host just before the break by Palmer. This was without counting on a decisive Safonov this time (40th). In the process, it was even PSG who hurt the Blues. Launched against by DouĂ©, DembĂ©lĂ© chose to go alone at goal despite the presence of Hakimi. Well done to him since the 2025 Ballon d’Or managed to restore the advantage to his team with an unstoppable cross strike (2-1, 45th).
Returning from the locker room, PSG resumed their intense pressing, but once again, they shot themselves in the foot. Involved in the first London goal, Mendes was at the origin of the second by missing a cross that DouĂ© misjudged before having the ball stolen by Neto. Starting on the left, the Portuguese only had to cross for Fernandez who was quick to easily deceive Safonov (2-2, 57th). Luis Enrique had reason to be annoyed on his sidelines. Paris managed to muzzle Palmer and Pedro, the dangers predicted, but it was ultimately Neto who made him suffer. It must be said that with Marquinhos opposite, the Lusitanian had enough to place his accelerations. The rest of the match was more complicated for the European champions. Paris was no longer able to shoot on goal since returning from the locker room and allowed itself to be lulled by the visitors. We could fear the worst, as the Red and Blue were so harmless. Luckily for them, Chelsea also knows how to give gifts. On a back pass from Fofana, Jorgensen thought he had time to clear or feint Barcola. The Parisian winger finally managed to block the opposing goalkeeper’s pass and the result shook up the Parc. Kvaratskhelia recovered the leather to serve Vitinha, author of the 3-2 goal with a clever lob (3-2, 74th). Ahead for the third time, Paris thought they would be caught once again with a new cross from the untenable Neto for Pedro, but the Brazilian was offside (79th). Paris could breathe, but did not expect to experience such an end to the match. The Blues made more and more mistakes, but a feat from Kvaratskhelia changed the situation. After a recovery from Mayulu, Titi served the Georgian on the left side. The former Neapolitan transplanted before firing a missile into the middle of 4 opponents (4-2, 86th). Two goals ahead was good, but “Kvara” scored a fifth in stoppage time (5-2, 90th). Enough to put the title holders in a comfortable position before the return match next Tuesday.
Relive the match film
