PSG vs. Chelsea: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea resume a rivalry that has flared back to life over the past eight months when they meet at the Parc des Princes for the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie. The visitors arrive in the French capital hoping to repeat their statement 3-0 victory in last summer’s Club World Cup final, but this time it will be Liam Rosenior, not Enzo Maresca, plotting the upset from the Chelsea technical area.

Rosenior has guided the Blues to back-to-back wins over Pafos and Napoli to seal a top-eight finish and a direct passage into the last 16. PSG, by contrast, needed a playoff triumph over Monaco to advance after an uneven league-phase campaign—something that has become almost routine for Luis Enrique’s side, who still managed to sweep six trophies in 2025.

Form, however, has been elusive. The Parisians have not hit the scintillating heights that carried them to European glory last season, and injuries have shredded the midfield that once dominated the continent. Fabián Ruíz is definitively out, while João Neves only returned to training recently. If the Portuguese isn’t risked, 19-year-old academy product Dro Fernández could make a third consecutive start. Further forward, Ousmane Dembélé—back after a weekend cameo against Monaco—will spearhead a 4-3-3 alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doué.

Defensively, captain Marquinhos is expected to partner Willian Pacho despite Illia Zabarnyi pushing for minutes, and Matvey Safonov has usurped summer signing Lucas Chevalier in goal.

Chelsea, bolstered by a weekend of rest for most starters, will field what Rosenior considers his strongest XI. Reece James is poised to drop into midfield alongside Moisés Caicedo, freeing Enzo Fernández to operate as the advanced playmaker and allowing Cole Palmer to drift inside from the right. Pedro Neto is preferred to Alejandro Garnacho on the left, with in-form João Pedro leading the line. Robert Sánchez regains the gloves after a brief Premier League benching, while Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah anchor the back four.

Expect a cagey opening. PSG’s home record and star power make them slender favorites, yet Chelsea’s pace on the break and set-piece threat mean the tie is far from settled ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

PSG predicted lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia

Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Neto; Pedro