PSG and Chelsea both know that the Champions League is all they have left to really play for in the 2015-16 season.
The Parisians are already the comfortable Ligue 1 champs, while Chelsea knows that winning this tournament is the only path available to stay in the Champions League next season.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea +160
Paris Saint-Germain +180
Draw +235
Over/Under 2.5 ( +113 )
ODDS ANALYSIS
This match really is tight. The oddsmakers have basically put the two teams on completely level terms with Chelsea lined as the ever slight +160 moneyline favorite. The Blues know they need to score a goal in this match if they want to get through to the quarters, as they're coming off of a 2-1 loss in Paris.
That said, not all is lost for Chelsea yet. If the Blues can win by a 1-0 margin, they'll advance on away goal.
With that 1-0 result still the most likely, the total has to be relatively low at 2.5 and -133 vig on the under.
THE FIRST LEG
Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened up the scoring ledger in this two-legged tie with a 39th minute goal at the Parc des Princes, but he was cancelled out almost immediately by John Obi Mikel just before halftime. That goal could end up proving crucial for the Blues in this match.
PSG though, wasn't done there. The hosts had all of the pressure in the second half, and they finally broke through with a 78th minute goal by Edinson Cavani that turned the tide of the tie.
The Parisians managed a total of 20 shots, eight of which hit the target and two of those got past Thibaut Courtois. Chelsea only hit the target with five shots, but it had its chances with 10 shots. The Blues though, only had 35 percent of the possession and will have to do better in this one.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"If it's not the case, we have other players. You can't fall into a panic either by saying that if we don't have those two players we can't do anything. No, we have quite a large squad." – PSG manager Laurent Blanc on the injuries to Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratii, both of which are highly questionable to make the trip across the English Channel to Stamford Bridge
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
This is a really tough call, as most of the matches for Chelsea have been this year. The Blues have understandably underachieved, but they've been in better form in recent weeks. Sure, they were held to a draw by Stoke City, but they've still shown some attacking prowess with Diego Costa and Pedro, both of which have been in significantly better form of late.
Though Blanc has played down the injuries to Matuidi and Verratti, not to mention the knock which has kept Angel Di Maria down in recent weeks and might limit his effectiveness in this game, we aren't. The Parisians aren't as deep as Blanc suggests they are, and we think they're going to be in for a war in this one.
However, Chelsea finds ways to lose matches like this all the time. We do see the Blues getting the edge at some point relatively early in this one, but just as PSG put on a show late on to take the advantage on French soil, we think an Ibrahimovic-created moment in the dying moments will flip the entire affair and give his side the crucial goal it needs to advance.
Chelsea 1, PSG 1
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will take place on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 2:45 p.m. at Stamford Bridge. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.
