Champions League 2013/14: Paris St-Germain v Chelsea

After last night’s 1-1 draws Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are more closely matched than many people thought would be the case and Paris St Germain and Chelsea has the makings of a game that could be on a knife-edge from start to finish.

Paris St Germain’s big money blaze of spending has made a side that was only a shadow of its former glories – and one that was easily beaten by Chelsea in 2004 when the Parisians committed a series of ridiculous defensive errors that saw Chelsea make short work of a hostile atmosphere – into one of the most impressive and imposing teams in Europe.

 

In their first season back in Europe last year – following a shock loss in the title race to Montpellier in France - they made easy work of reaching the quarter finals were they succumbed to Barcelona only on away goals after a strong showing infront of their own at the Parc Des Princes, not actually losing a game in the two legged tie.

Now Champions of France they look set to make short work of their title rivals this year, holding a 13-point lead over their main rivals Monaco, and since a 1-1 draw away at Monaco, have won their last 7 in Ligue 1 coming into this and were deeply impressive in making incredibly short work of Bayer Leverkusen in their semi final first leg before coasting home in Paris with the pressure very much off their shoulders in terms of the tie being over.

A hugely impressive side was praised by Jose Mouriniho for their attacking process but with Tiago Silva, Marquinihos and Salvatore Sirigu as a centre back and goalkeeper duo they have shown a lot of resolution in a short Champions League stint for a side that can boast an array of riches in attack. They have 21 more goals to their name than Monaco in Ligue 1’s goalscoring charts with Zaltan Ibrjahimovic in the form of his life. His 35 goals and 11 assits this season have seen 10 strikes in the Champions League so far, while Edison Cavani has also chipped in with four. Midfielders Blasé Matuidi and Thiago Motta both have three assists a piece and Marco Veratti is also potentially lethal.

This game is likely to be won and lost in midfield given the solidity of Chelsea’s defence – they have let in just 28 goals so far and scored 18 less than Manchester City and 26 less than Liverpool in the Premier League – and Jose’s men can boast players at least the equal of Laurent Blanc’s side with Willian, Luiz, Oscar and Hazard all equally capable of turning a game on it’s head. The worry for them is upfront, with options upfront apart from the injures Samuel Eto’o having not impressed for any real point this season and Andre Schurrle starting upfront is a potential hangup against this defence.

 However similar questions presided before their visit to Manchester City in the Premiership and they have left 3^rd to seventh in the Premiership table with results that would be considered a great result here; PSG, who ideally would need a result to take back to London, are odds on favourites but to us that looks extremely short and we will let out ante post bet ride today with both teams looking more eachother’s equal than the other.