Chelsea’s Champions League path mapped out after drawing PSG in Round of 16

Chelsea’s route to the Champions League final in Budapest has crystallised after the draw paired them with Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. The Blues will travel to the French capital for the first leg on either 11 or 12 March, before welcoming PSG to Stamford Bridge for the decisive return leg seven days later.

Avoiding a domestic clash with Newcastle United, who were placed on the opposite side of the bracket, Chelsea can now trace a clear line through the knockout phase. Should they dispatch the Parisians, Liam Rosenior’s side would face the winner of Galatasaray versus Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

Progress beyond that stage would pit Chelsea against one of Europe’s heavyweights—Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich or Atalanta—in the semi-finals. The first leg of that tie would be staged at Stamford Bridge, a scheduling quirk viewed by some as a minor handicap.

A victory in the semi-final would propel Chelsea to their fourth Champions League final and set up the tantalising prospect of a showdown with tournament favourites Arsenal for the trophy in Budapest.

The Blues secured their place in the last 16 by finishing inside the top eight of the group stage, an achievement that looked uncertain after Enzo Maresca’s exit on New Year’s Day. With league form still short of guaranteeing next season’s qualification, success in Europe may yet prove the surest path back to the competition’s top table.