Key Battles For Paris Saint-Germain F.C. And Chelsea FC

PSG right back Gregory Van Der Wiel vs. Chelsea left winger Eden Hazard

With the injuries to Paris Saint-Germain’s new starting right back Marquinhos and his backup Serge Aurier, Gregory Van der Wiel will return to the starting lineup for the Parisians in a match-up that will challenge the defensive frailties which cost him his starting position.

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He will stand against Chelsea FC left winger Eden Hazard, a dangerous attacker who can tear a defense to pieces with the ball at his feet. The player has created a chance every 34 minutes and 29 seconds from open play this season.

Chelsea will keep their 4-2-3-1 formation (2-1 central midfield) against PSG’s 4-3-3 (1-2 central midfield), creating an interlocked battle in central midfield with easily identifiable match-ups and no free central midfield players for either side.

With all of PSG’s central midfielders occupied marking Chelsea attackers, Van der Wiel will have no defensive cover to mark the inward drifting of Hazard, who only attempts 0.3 crosses per game, and who will attempt to create numerical advantage in central midfield for Chelsea when they attack.

These movements will test Van der Wiel’s defensive positioning and awareness, the same foibles that allowed PSG to concede six goals in the last two matches he started, and cost him his starting position. He will have to balance the need to protect PSG’s right defensive flank, follow the movement of Hazard, and provide defensive cover to Thiago Silva, PSG’s right center back.

In attack, with the interlocked central midfields limiting the space of PSG attackers and the freedom of attack, PSG leftback Maxwell will be restricted by the defensive mentality of Willian or the counter attacking threat of recent Chelsea addition Juan Cuadrado.

Van der Weil could provide PSG’s best attacking threat with runs down the right touchline and crosses into the box for PSG’s two forwards, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edison Cavani. However, he must always maintain his defensive positioning

 PSG center back David Luiz vs. Chelsea center forward Diego Costa

“If not for his lack of defensive consistency, David Luiz would be lining up in Chelsea’s central defense against PSG…

 If not for his lack of defensive consistency, David Luiz would be lining up in Chelsea’s central defense against PSG. Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s manager, never trusted Luiz’s defensive positioning in his backline; and like Rafa Benitez had done the previous season, played him as a holding midfielder where he was given the freedom to express himself with the ball, while allowing Chelsea to still have two central defenders setting the foundatio.

In a match where Mourinho will most likely play a more reactive brand of football with a deeper defensive line, limiting the influence of Edison Cavani, and the athleticism of Lucas Moura.

With PSG’s central midfielders all occupied, Luiz must not get lured into the attacking center back trap, providing extra space and attacking options for Chelsea center forward Diego Costa.

Costa has been lethal for Chelsea during this season. He leads the Premier League in scoring with 17 goals, while averaging a goal every 112 minutes and every 3.5 shot attempts. In what could become a nervy and close tie, Luiz can’t allow himself to make positional errors or lose focus on his primary responsibility. Costa will be ready and willing to punish him for his errors.

 Central Midfielders: PSG’s Marco Verrati vs. Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas

While they will hardly play against each other — with both managers planning to pit their more defensive minded and physical central midfielders against their opponents in order to control their creative freedom — Verrati and Fabregas, whoever will be able to create the better chances, will give their side the advantage in the first leg.

With the injuries to Javier Pastore (four assists) and Lucas Moura (three assists), in addition to the limited attacking freedom for left back Maxwell (three assists), the creative responsibility will fall to Verrati, who is tied in the club’s assist category with four. He will have to evade the marking of the physically dominant 6’4” Chelsea holding midfielder Nemanja Matic, who has rightly earned himself a position on the short list for European best XI.

Fabregas, who is returning from injury and may not be 100% match fit, has been spectacular for Chelsea throughout the season. He has been Chelsea’s most creative player, recording 19 assists, while creating a chance every 38 minutes and 44 seconds.

With Chelsea most likely playing a deeper defensive line, on the counter attack, Fabregas will be responsible for spraying passes behind the high PSG defensive line for Costa and Cuadrado, or passing the ball in between PSG’s exposed lines to Hazard or Willian.

Blaise Matuidi, who was injured in PSG’s previous match, a 2-2 draw versus Caen and is an injury doubt for the match, will be responsible for denying Fabregas the freedom he needs to influence the match.