PSG routs Chelsea 5-2 in Champions League

Joao Neves and Ousmane Dembele returned from injury to help Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) rout Chelsea 5-2 in the last 16 of the Champions League. They combined to set up the first goal after 10 minutes, and Dembele scored with a brilliant solo effort late in the first half.

The third goal followed a blunder from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen, who passed the ball straight to PSG forward Bradley Barcola. He fed substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who then passed inside to Vitinha, and he neatly lobbed Jørgensen.

Kvaratskhelia added two late goals, allowing PSG to take a healthy lead into next Tuesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge in London.

“We showed we are capable of anything. We have to carry on like this,” Kvaratskhelia said. “We conceded goals, but we have to analyse the mistakes we made.”  Dembele’s speed and lucid thinking on his goal showed that the Ballon d’Or winner is getting back to his best in an injury-hit season. He latched onto a pass near the halfway line and then accelerated clear before cutting inside and then outside to beat defenders Marc Cucurella and then Wesley Fofana before firing a low shot across Jørgensen and into the bottom left corner. “He played very well, he played like Ousmane Dembele knows how to and it’s very good news for us,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “We look forward to him doing it again in London next week.” Dembele came off midway through the second half, but it appeared only as a precautionary measure rather than another injury flare-up.

“When a player returns, you have to give them the right amount of playing time,” Luis Enrique said. On the opening goal, Dembele’s cross from the right was headed down by Neves for Barcola to score from inside the penalty area.

Dembele hit the crossbar moments later with a rasping shot. He came off midway through the second half.

Neves had been nursing an ankle injury since PSG advanced past Monaco in the Champions League playoffs last month.

Dembele shook off a calf injury. He had come on as a second-half substitute in Friday’s 3-1 home defeat to Monaco in Ligue 1.

Their return allowed PSG coach Luis Enrique to name a near-full-strength side, although midfielder Fabian Ruiz remained sidelined with a left knee injury.

PSG last played Chelsea in July in the final of the Club World Cup, when Chelsea won 3-0.