The first leg of this Champions League Round of 16 tie was an enthralling spectacle throughout with the Blues more than a match for the European champions for most of it, but three late PSG strikes leave us with it all to do back at the Bridge next Tuesday evening.

Bradley Barcola opened the scoring in the tenth minute but Gusto deservedly drew us level with his first European goal for the club in the country of his birth. Just 14 seconds after Cole Palmer had a shot well saved, PSG restored their lead before the interval through the breaking Ousmane Dembele.

We started the second half well and equalised through Fernandez’s fine finish following excellent work from Pedro Neto. However, things unravelled for the Blues in the closing stages as Vitinha capitalised on a defensive mistake and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted a quickfire brace to hand PSG a sizeable advantage heading into the second leg.

Team news

Neto was the only player who started at Wrexham on Saturday to be named in Liam Rosenior’s side tonight.

That meant Filip Jorgensen was between the posts for his third Champions League appearance this season, while Marc Cucurella returned to the starting XI for the first time since his recent injury. Gusto was the other full-back, with Reece James deployed alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield, as he was when the teams met in the Club World Cup final last summer.

Cole Palmer, Fernandez and Neto supported Joao Pedro in attack.

Bright start unrewarded

The first chance of the game, inside four minutes, fell to the in-form Brazilian. James whipped in a dangerous centre that the unmarked Joao Pedro couldn’t quite get enough purchase on to steer it goalwards.

Our positive start continued as we won a couple of corners in quick succession, before PSG began to assert themselves and promptly took the lead. Dembele’s deep cross was nodded down to Barcola by Joao Neves, and the young French forward lashed a finish into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Ten minutes had been played, and just five later we were indebted to the reflexes of Jorgensen for keeping it 1-0. Dembele worked a yard in the box and went for goal, with the Danish keeper reacting magnificently to tip his shot onto the post.

The entertaining start to this first leg continued. Slick work between Joao Pedro and Fernandez on halfway allowed Neto to dart clear down the left; his cross was very nearly turned into his own net by Nuno Mendes.

Midway through the half Joao Pedro had a shot blocked after we again fashioned space in the final third, and the Brazilian striker then tested Matvei Safanov in PSG’s goal with a header.

Back PSG came. Jorgensen at full stretch tipped Barcola’s bending effort around his post. The breathless start showed no sign of abating, so it didn’t come as a surprise when we deservedly levelled in the 28th minute.

Hitting back

The goal was simple in its execution. With PSG eyes focused on Fernandez on the left-hand side of the pitch, Gusto was able to ghost in down the right and collect the Argentinean’s pass. His shot was too hot for Safanov to handle, the ball squirming under his body and in.

A period of relative calm ensued before the contest swung back in PSG’s favour with the interval approaching.

Frustratingly, the goal stemmed directly from a good chance of our own. Safanov saved Palmer’s strike and the Parisiens broke at speed, exploiting the number of white shirts ahead of the ball. Dembele was released and twisted and turned away from Cucurella and Fofana before firing into the far corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

That was the way it stayed until the half-time whistle brought an end to a pulsating 45 minutes of knockout Champions League football.

Understandably the tempo waned a little when the teams reconvened. PSG enjoyed plenty of possession without threatening, with the Blues content to set up solidly and hit our hosts on the break.

Level again

That’s exactly what happened for our second equaliser of the evening. Neto stole the ball off the dawdling Warren Zaire-Emery and put his foot on the gas, bursting around the outside of Marquinhos. The winger then had the presence of mind to cut the ball back into the path of Fernandez, whose first-time finish was assured.

Again, though, parity would not last long. A quarter-of-an-hour remained when Jorgensen’s attempted pass out from the back was intercepted by Barcola, who knocked it to sub Kvaratskhelia. He found Vitinha who deftly lobbed the ball over the stranded Jorgensen.

We briefly thought we had levelled once more when Joao Pedro steered in Neto’s centre from close range, but the offside flag was raised with Enzo ahead of the play in the build-up.

Late collapse

It was PSG that scored the game’s sixth legitimate goal four minutes from time. Kvaratskhelia drifted in off the left and whipped an outstanding strike into the top corner. And there was still time for the Georgian to add a fifth, as PSG had men over and an unmarked Kvaratskhelia converted Achraf Hakimi’s cross.

What it means...

We have a mountain to climb in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. You can be there with Club Chelsea to support the Blues as we try and secure a famous comeback, with matchday packages available now.

What’s next...

The Blues return to London ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Newcastle. Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 5.30pm.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto (Garnacho 88), Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; James (c), Caicedo; Palmer (Lavia 83), Fernandez, Neto; Joao Pedro (Delap 83)
Unused subs Sanchez, Merrick, Acheampong, Badiashile, Sarr, Tosin, Hato, Andrey Santos, Guiu
Scorers Gusto 28, Fernandez 57

PSG (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos (c), Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery (L.Hernandez 78), Vitinha, Joao Neves; Doue (Kvaratskhelia 62), Dembele (Lee 69), Barcola (Mayulu 78)
Unused subs Chevalier, Marin, Lucas Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Goncalo Ramos, Dro Fernandez, Mbaye
Scorers Barcola 10, Dembele 40, Vitinha 74, Kvaratskhelia 86, 90+4
Booked Kvaratskhelia 88

Referee Alejandro Hernandez from Spain
Crowd 47,566