CL R16: Chelsea vs PSG

Obviously the pick of all the ties. Tough game to call, reckon PSG are the favourites purely off the strength of their forwards alone.

2nd best tie of the round.

Don't think there is any favourite in this one. Ibra hasn't been that good this season due to injuries while Cavani has turned into Adam Johnson. Lucas Moura is a threat. And their midfield is doing well.

Should be close games in both legs. Away goal might be important in this one.

Gil wrote:Tough game to call, reckon PSG are the favourites purely off the strength of their forwards alone.

Lol.

You are not fooling anybody.

So Mourinho's gotten his wish (yea right).


This'll be a tough one (Captain Obvious). We were fortunate to get past them last year I felt and they'll only be an even fiercer opponent this time round for the fact that they'll have a chip on the shoulder from those ties. Will have to be much better against them that we were last term, especially away, though as RG noted many of their star players aren't quite as on fire as they were last season, and while I believe we improved exponentially over the summer, they did so very little.


Certainly makes for a very interesting encounter all around.

Depends on form. PSG have gotten their squad back from injuries for less than a month... Ibra, Verratti, Silva, Lavezzi and Cabaye have all been out for long periods. Even Matuidi had a couple of games off due to stuff.

If PSG can get healthy and get form back, it will be a good tie. If they cannot, then it won't be a good tie. It's that simple really.

Cabaye is important now because Motta is really meh this season... Blanc needs a viable alternative. This is Cabaye's chance.

Keep in mind that Ibra didn't play the second leg last season as he got injured halfway through leg 1... that was a big key. He's the focal point of PSG's system obviously.

Obviously they couldn't have drawn Bayern or Madrid, but just to put it out there I think PSG is the third toughest team Chelsea could have faced in this CL season.

Always said I fancy Chelsea this season because they are the only team that can actually defend properly in the CL. But this is by no means going to be an easy tie for them.

cabaye is never going to be starting in front of the defense in CL, no chance.

Blanc is already losing hi squad, but since the game is in a month or so, they have a chance to put it back together.

Otherwise, easy game for chelsea as far as i can see

Why not? He does it for France. Motta has been horrible.

yes he has, but you know he won't. Blanc can't bench Motta, that's something you should know as well. Just like Marquinhos on the bench while he forces Luiz into his xi.

It's politics, Cabaye has no place at PSG, and unless Motta is injured, Cabaye isn't starting shet

Silva and Luiz have both been downright horrible... it's a scandal that Marquinhos isn't starting.

PSG will go through. No doubt in my mind.

I think Chelsea have this myself. They just look more put-together than PSG, who have really struggled of late. Then again, the tie isn't until February....a lot can change between now and then. Up does often become down in this sport.

Keep in mind we didn't have Matic and Fabregas last season when we played them. We played Lampard/Luiz/Mikel in midfield. Naturally, this meant they dominated the midfield a good bit over both ties. I don't think that's going to happen this time.


Also, we played Ba/Torres last year. This year we have Costa/Drogba/Remy. We're better than last year. I don't think PSG are better than last year.

Think we'll win this one with a 2 goal margin on aggregate.

PSG played without Ibra for all but one half (got injured) against Chelsea last season.  They also didn't have Aurier and Alex played instead of Luis.  So PSG are better too on paper.  Problem is that PSG is not in good form.  But that can change quickly...  last year, they peaked early and then fell off by the time the Chelsea tie came around.

Also, you're not going to play Costa, Drogba and Remy together.  It will only be one of them.  Matic is a big upgrade.  Costa/Matic is much better than Lampard/Eto'o.  But i don't think Costa's style is a great matchup against Silva/Luiz.  They struggle against the tricky/pacey strikers (they suck covering them).  They do a good job on guys who try to get physical with them.

PSG to defeat Chelsea and finalize the recruitment of Hazard and lick up Gil's tears

Chelsea easily. People tend to forget that Chelsea are much, much better than they were last year. Young players like Hazard and Oscar have gained much more experience in the time being, and they also added 3 top 5 players in their positions in Matic (best DM in the world), Cesc and Costa.

We really need Hazard to go on a scoring run this season. This is normally the period he starts scoring goals (scored in his last 5 home games) but hopefully he sustains it till the end of the year this time around.

With Schurrle playing like shit, Oscar focusing on playmaking and Cesc playing a deeper role we need a second goalscoring threat in these sort of games.

Valkyrja wrote:Chelsea easily. People tend to forget that Chelsea are much, much better than they were last year. Young players like Hazard and Oscar have gained much more experience in the time being, and they also added 3 top 5 players in their positions in Matic (best DM in the world), Cesc and Costa.

Exactly : MAtic-Cesc------Costa is much more stronger than Luiz-Lampard-----Eto'o

Gil wrote:With Schurrle playing like shit

Well it's not like he is getting any regular starts, is it

Gil wrote:We really need Hazard to go on a scoring run this season. This is normally the period he starts scoring goals (scored in his last 5 home games) but hopefully he sustains it till the end of the year this time around.

With Schurrle playing like shit, Oscar focusing on playmaking and Cesc playing a deeper role we need a second goalscoring threat in these sort of games.

Hazard is the ultimate deceiver, never leaves London.

Abramovich wrote:

Gil wrote:We really need Hazard to go on a scoring run this season. This is normally the period he starts scoring goals (scored in his last 5 home games) but hopefully he sustains it till the end of the year this time around.

With Schurrle playing like shit, Oscar focusing on playmaking and Cesc playing a deeper role we need a second goalscoring threat in these sort of games.

Hazard is the ultimate deceiver, never leaves London.

To be fair, 3 of his best games for us (Fulham away, Sunderland away and City away) all came last season but yeah, his profligacy away from home is incredibly frustrating.

Gil wrote:

Abramovich wrote:

Gil wrote:We really need Hazard to go on a scoring run this season. This is normally the period he starts scoring goals (scored in his last 5 home games) but hopefully he sustains it till the end of the year this time around.

With Schurrle playing like shit, Oscar focusing on playmaking and Cesc playing a deeper role we need a second goalscoring threat in these sort of games.

Hazard is the ultimate deceiver, never leaves London.

To be fair, 3 of his best games for us (Fulham away, Sunderland away and City away) all came last season but yeah, his profligacy away from home is incredibly frustrating.

Reach for the stars.

Closest tie of the round.I feel like whoever wins here will reach the CL final imo.

S , PSG right know don't have the level to reach the CL final. Chelsea is stronger than them imo. Last year, Psg was great but this year there are not as good as last year : Thiago's injuries are not helping, Zlatan is coming back from injury, Cavani and Lavezzi are not reliable as of now...
Meanwhile Chelsea got 2 WC midfielders and a clinical goalscorer.
I'm not expecting Chelsea to win by a big margin but can't see them lose.