16th Feb 2015 | Champions League
Jittery PSG Defend Proud Home Record
Laurent Blanc's expensively assembled side are unbeaten in 32 European home games but there have been signs of nerves lately. Mourinho may get the score draw he would cherish.
The Champions League resumes on Tuesday night with a fittingly big clash as Paris St-Germain face Chelsea in a repeat of one of last year’s quarter-finals.
The Londoners progressed on that occasion despite losing 3-1 at the Parc des Princes, but Mourinho will be determined to not leave so much work for the second leg this time around.
There can be little doubt he would take a 1-1 draw right now and he might just get it.
On the one hand a draw looks like the least the hosts will get given they are unbeaten in 32 home matches in UEFA competition dating back to 2006-7. Pertinently, Laurent Blanc’s side have already beaten Barcelona 3-2 in Paris during the group stages this season.
But there have been a few cracks in recent weeks. On Saturday PSG surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Caen; it was a result of effectively playing with nine men due to late injuries, but these sort of things can play on even strong minds.
This came just a month after Bastia beat them 4-2 having trailed 2-0. Mourinho’s Chelsea are exactly the sort of team who can latch onto any mental frailty in the home camp in order to secure the requisite result.
1-1 would fit the bill for the Premier League leaders and WilliamHill not only offer best price on this but will refund us if another likely scoreline, 0-0, comes about instead.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 20:05 16th Feb, 2015 but subject to change
