Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice and assisted another late on as Paris Saint-Germain's 5-2 win over Chelsea left them in control of their Champions League last-16 tie.
2025/2026 UEFA Champions League
4-2
Match Report
Liam Rosenior's side will have to overturn a three-goal deficit in Tuesday's return meeting at Stamford Bridge, after substitute Kvaratskhelia stole the show off the bench at Parc des Princes.
Joao Pedro missed a fourth-minute chance from Reece James' cross, but PSG hit the front six minutes later when Joao Neves nodded down Ousmane Dembele's cross for Bradley Barcola, who thumped a half-volley into the roof of the net from near the penalty spot.
Dembele then rattled the woodwork with the help of a Filip Jorgensen fingertip before Chelsea hit back when Enzo Fernandez found Malo Gusto to sneak a low drive under the reach of Matvey Safonov 28 minutes in.
Cole Palmer forced a smart Safonov stop before the break, only for PSG to race away on the counter-attack as Desire Doue released Dembele to fire into the bottom-left corner after beating Wesley Fofana.
Chelsea restored parity again in the 57th minute when Pedro Neto stormed down the left and squared for Fernandez to steer home, but a needless Jorgensen error then handed possession to Kvaratskhelia via Barcola's interception, with Vitinha on hand to coolly lob the stranded Chelsea goalkeeper in the 74th minute.
Joao Pedro's finish was ruled out for offside soon after, before Kvaratskhelia first danced inside and hammered into the top-right corner, and then swept home Achraf Hakimi's cutback in stoppage time to seal the victory.
Data Debrief: Young PSG stars deliver
Barcola's opener marked his first Champions League goal since February 2025 against Brest, ending a run of 17 appearances without scoring in UEFA's flagship competition, before Kvaratskhelia took centre stage.
The Georgian has been directly involved in five goals (three goals, two assists) in his last five games in the Champions League, netting in both his substitute appearances in the competition this season.
Doue has also been directly involved in four goals (two goals, two assists) in his last three Champions League games, either scoring or assisting in three consecutive games in the competition for the first time.
Fernandez had earlier almost single-handedly dragged Chelsea to parity, scoring and assisting in a Champions League game for the first time.
But the Blues ultimately walked away with nothing in the French capital, despite accumulating 1.53 expected goals (xG) to PSG's 0.87.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Doue fouls Caicedo, referee whistles
4' James cross met by Pedro, effort just wide
10' GOAL! Barcola collects, volleys home. PSG 1-0 Chelsea
14' Gusto cross, Enzo blasts over
16' Dembele into box, volley hits woodwork
18' Neto cross, Mendes sliced clearance nearly own goal
23' Cucurella cross, Pedro header held
28' GOAL! Gusto volleys in from box. PSG 1-1 Chelsea
40' GOAL! Dembélé beats two, slots home. PSG 2-1 Chelsea
47' Barcola through on goal, Joensen out to deny
57' GOAL! Neto crosses, Enzo blasts home. PSG 2-2 Chelsea
62' Doue off, Kvaratskhelia on
69' Dembele off, Kang-in Lee on
71' Barcola fouls Gusto, referee whistles
74' GOAL! Vitinha intercepts, chips home. PSG 3-2 Chelsea
80' Pedro scores, but offside
84' Too hasty! Delap shot from box wide
86' GOAL! Kvaratskhelia long-range strike. PSG 4-2 Chelsea
90' Highlight from PSG vs Chelsea
Line-ups
PSG XI: Marquinhos, Dembele, Hakimi, Safonov, Vitinha, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, Doue, João Neves
Subs: Lucas, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kang-in Lee, Gonçalo Ramos, Ilya Zabarnyi, Lucas Chevalier, Beraldo, Dro Fernández, Mayulu, Renato Marin, Mbaye
Chelsea XI: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Jørgensen, João Pedro, Enzo, Caicedo, Gusto
Subs: Adarabioyo, Robert Sánchez, Badiashile, Garnacho, Liam Delap, Lavia, Mamadou Sarr, Jorrel Hato, Andrey Santos, Josh Acheampong, Max Merrick, Guiu