Paris Saint-Germain snuffed out any chance of a Chelsea comeback with Khvicha Kvaratskelia among the scorers in a clinical 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday that took the holders into the Champions League quarter-finals 8-2 on aggregate.
The Georgian’s early opener was soon followed by a stunning Bradley Barcola strike, quickly ending Chelsea’s hopes of overturning a 5-2 deficit from the first leg of last week’s last 16 tie.
Substitute Cenny Mayulu then fired in PSG’s third in the second half as Luis Enrique’s men move into a last-eight tie against either Liverpool or Galatasaray next month – the Turkish side head to Anfield on Wednesday with a 1-0 first-leg advantage.
PSG’s dream of retaining the Champions League title is still alive a year after winning the trophy for the first time in its history.
The Qatar-backed side’s comprehensive victory in this tie avenges last July’s defeat to the Blues in the Club World Cup final and suggests they can find their best form again in due course.
It was their fourth win in a two-legged knockout tie against Premier League opposition since the start of last year, but while that record is impressive, Chelsea are a long way from the level required in Europe’s elite club competition.
Liam Rosenier’s side did not believe they could come back from their slump six days ago when they conceded three late goals to go 2-2 to 5-2 at the Parc des Princes.
After a miserable week in the Premier League in which two defeats against PSG came either side of a defeat at home to Newcastle United, their focus will now turn to fighting to qualify for the Champions League again next season.
Robert Sanchez opened the scoring here as he did at the weekend, after Filipe Jorgensen replaced the Spaniard and missed PSG’s crucial third goal in the first leg.
No chance
PSG, meanwhile, gave Kvaratskhelia a start after coming off the bench to score a late double in Paris that swung the tie decisively his side’s way.
The Parisians will undoubtedly make the trip fresh after their scheduled weekend Ligue 1 game against Nantes was canceled to aid their preparations.
Here they were ahead on six minutes as Mamadou Sir – making his Champions League debut – misjudged a long kick downfield by PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov and Kvaratskelia outpaced the young Chelsea defender before beating Sanchez.
The second goal came on the quarter-hour mark, when Warren Zaire-Emery fed Achraf Hakimi on the right and found the Moroccan Barkola, who controlled on the edge of the box before sending a wonderful strike into the top-left corner.
The tie was good at that point, and when the third goal came after the hour mark the home fans began to flood the exits.
Kvaratskhelia did spadework down the left this time, before his ball fell to Mayulu in the middle – the 19-year-old, who replaced Joao Neves at half-time, gave Sanchez no chance with a deadly first-time strike.
A miserable evening for Chelsea was compounded when Trevoh Chalobah was stretchered off late on, leaving the hosts to finish the game with 10 men as they used all their substitutes.
(With FRANCE 24 AFP)
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