Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scores twice as PSG beat Chelsea 5-2 in the Champions League last-16 first leg after a dramatic late collapse.
Paris Saint-Germain took a commanding step toward the Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-2 win over Chelsea. The holders produced a devastating late surge at the Parc des Princes.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice after coming off the bench to seal the victory. The result leaves Chelsea facing a difficult task ahead of the second leg in London.
PSG began the match with intensity and quickly took control of possession. Their pressure paid off in the 10th minute with the opening goal. João Neves nodded Ousmane Dembélé’s cross into the path of Bradley Barcola inside the box. The winger controlled the ball and smashed a half volley into the roof of the net.
Chelsea had an early chance before that breakthrough. Reece James delivered a low cross, but João Pedro failed to connect properly in front of goal. Barcola’s strike ended a long Champions League scoring drought and lifted the Paris crowd.
Chelsea reacted well after conceding and began to grow into the match. Their equaliser arrived in the 28th minute through right back Malo Gusto. Enzo Fernández switched play cleverly to find Gusto in space inside the penalty area. The defender kept his shot low and squeezed it past Matvey Safonov.
PSG soon threatened again when Dembélé forced Filip Jorgensen to tip a powerful effort onto the post. The contest remained open as both teams created chances. Just before half time, however, PSG struck again to regain the lead.
The second goal came after a rapid counterattack. Cole Palmer had seen a shot saved seconds earlier for Chelsea. PSG broke quickly upfield and Désiré Doué released Dembélé behind the defence. The forward beat Wesley Fofana and slotted a composed finish into the corner in the 40th minute. That strike sent the home side into the break with a narrow 2-1 advantage. Chelsea had competed well but faced another uphill battle.
Chelsea again showed resilience early in the second half. Pedro Neto surged down the left flank and delivered a low cross across the area. Fernández arrived perfectly and guided the ball into the net in the 57th minute. The midfielder became both scorer and creator during a strong individual display. The game remained finely balanced until the final stages. Then a costly mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Jorgensen shifted the momentum.
Jorgensen attempted a risky pass out from the back in the 74th minute. Barcola intercepted and quickly fed Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian attacker calmly set up Vitinha, who chipped the stranded goalkeeper to make it 3-2. Chelsea never recovered from that setback.
Kvaratskhelia then produced a moment of brilliance in the 86th minute. He cut inside and curled a superb strike from the edge of the box into the top corner. Deep into stoppage time, Achraf Hakimi delivered a low cutback that Kvaratskhelia finished from close range to make it 5-2.
PSG scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to take firm control of the tie. Kvaratskhelia finished with two goals and an assist after entering as a substitute. Barcola also impressed, ending a run of 17 Champions League appearances without a goal. Chelsea, meanwhile, generated more expected goals despite the defeat.
The Blues recorded 1.53 expected goals compared with PSG’s 0.87. However, defensive errors proved decisive in the final stages.
Chelsea must now attempt a major comeback in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on 17 March. Only a handful of teams have overturned a three-goal deficit in Champions League history. Before that clash, Chelsea host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday. PSG will have a week to prepare after their domestic fixture was postponed.
