PSG vs Chelsea player ratings: Edinson Cavani makes impact off the bench, Zlatan Ibrahimovic impresses
John Obi Mikel's away goal gave Guus Hiddink's side hope for the second leg at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Edinson Cavani’s tidy late finish gave Paris Saint-Germain a slender advantage over Chelsea after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Uruguayan striker stuck the ball between goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ legs to restore his side’s lead after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s opener had been cancelled out by a rare John Obi Mikel goal.
Mikel’s strike, coming on the cusp of half-time, could prove crucial if the away goals rule comes into play during the second leg at Stamford Bridge in three weeks’ time.
Guus Hiddink’s men will go into that game knowing they need only claim a 1-0 win to progress and will be encouraged with the mettle they showed at the Parc des Princes.
The home side came out of the traps quickest and dominated the first half but struggled, ultimately, to fashion any clear cut chances.
PSG were limited to long shots for much of the first 45 minutes but finally broke the deadlock through the talismanic Ibrahimovic, who struck past Courtois directly from a free-kick.
Chelsea’s response came through Mikel, who scored his sixth goal of a 10-year spell with the club when left in space on a corner.
The defending Premier League champions defended resolutely after the break, blocking numerous efforts on their goal, but were ultimately beaten by substitute Cavani.
The former Napoli frontman, a much-maligned figure in Paris, latched onto a lobbed through ball from the brilliant Angel Di Maria and found the net from a tightening angle.
How did we rate each player at the Parc des Princes? Take a look at the gallery to find out…
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