Chelsea’s Champions League hopes were ended by Paris St-Germain at the last-16 stage once more as Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspired the French champions to victory at Stamford Bridge.
PSG built on their 2-1 lead from the first leg when Ibrahimovic crossed perfectly for Adrien Rabiot to score from close range after 16 minutes.
Diego Costa’s smart finish put Chelsea level on the night before half-time, but his departure through injury on the hour and Ibrahimovic’s simple finish from Angel di Maria’s delivery seven minutes later sent PSG into the last eight.
The visitors, who knocked Chelsea out on away goals at this stage last season, ended the night in total control.
Chelsea – 10th in the Premier League – now face the prospect of being without European football next season, with Costa and Eden Hazard limping off injured before Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Everton.
More on Chelsea’s defeat by PSG
Chelsea in transitional period – Hiddink
Relive Chelsea’s second leg against PSG
Listen to BBC Radio 5 live’s commentary of the goals
Podcast: ‘A new Chelsea boss can’t come soon enough’
Abramovich on unfamiliar ground
Roman Abramovich took control of Chelsea in July 2003 – two months after a final-day victory over Liverpool secured a place in the Champions League.
Since then, the Blues’ Russian owner has never been deprived of a place in Europe’s elite competition – the title he made his priority before finally winning it against Bayern Munich on penalties in their own Allianz Arena in 2012.
Now, barring the most unlikely circumstances, it will be Europa League at best next season as they are currently 10 points off fourth-placed Manchester City, having played a game more.
It means when Abramovich appoints his next manager, which looks increasingly likely to be Italy coach Antonio Conte, it will be a rebuilding job with Chelsea on the outside of Europe’s top table looking in.
Chelsea’s new man can expect heavy financial backing after two successive exits at the last-16 stage, followed by the ignominy of not qualifying at all.
With captain John Terry looking likely to leave and new faces brought in, the summer could signal a fresh start for the Abramovich era after this defeat.
Costa’s absence a body blow
PSG’s Twitter account created plenty of pre-match headlines by mischievously labelling Chelsea striker Costa a “fraud”.
It may have been an attempt to get under the combustible Spain international’s skin – but it did anything but as he looked the real deal before he succumbed to injury on the hour.
The 27-year-old was a threat throughout, bringing a fine early save from PSG keeper Kevin Trapp and scoring the goal that gave Chelsea some hope before Ibrahimovic snuffed it out and was a threat all night.
As Chelsea regroup and try to salvage something from the chaos of a season that saw Jose Mourinho sacked as manager seven months after winning the Premier League title, the sight of Costa collapsing to the floor before being helped off is a serious worry for interim boss Guus Hiddink.
Costa’s departure, quickly followed by Ibrahimovic’s close-range strike, was the death knell for Chelsea.
They now have a vital FA Cup tie at Everton on Saturday and this is now the only trophy in their sights.
If Chelsea are to fashion success from this campaign, they will need Costa available for as many games as possible.
PSG show changing of the guard?
PSG’s second successive Champions League win over Chelsea offers further evidence of a new order in European football – one which the reigning Premier League champions are not currently part of.
When PSG were bought by Qatari owners in 2011, the Stamford Bridge club represented the model they would have had in mind as they mapped out their plans for supremacy.
Champions League results in recent seasons suggest they have achieved the goal of overtaking Chelsea. They lost to the Blues on away goals in the 2014 quarter-final but reversed the result at the last-16 stage last season.
Now this repeat result has left Chelsea playing catch-up as PSG look to build on their power base.
Man of the match – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manager reaction
Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink: “We gave too much respect in the first 10 minutes, they were dominating. They are a good side but once we stepped up we had some chances.
“In the 67th minute it all changed. We had a good chance to score, then Diego Costa was injured. We knew he was not totally fit but he desperately wanted to play and scored a beautiful goal.
“It is a difficult season. We were almost panicking about relegation when I came in but it is difficult to get into fourth place.”
PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “We played with lots of patient possession and when we had a chance to strike we scored two goals. We had enough to win the game.
“Overall we played the way we wanted to. It was not easy, you have to watch out. Chelsea’s front four are able to do anything. We are doing good things, where we end up we don’t know. We are not satisfied yet.”
The stats you need to know
PSG are the first French team to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in four consecutive seasons.
PSG are the fourth team in Europe’s top five leagues to score 100 goals in all competitions this season, alongside Barcelona (132), Real Madrid (107) and Borussia Dortmund (103).
Diego Costa has scored or assisted 17 goals in his past 15 games in all competitions for Chelsea (11 goals, 6 assists).
Costa has scored in each of his past five games at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea – his best run for the Blues.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been directly involved in 29 Champions League goals for PSG since 2012 (19 goals, 10 assists), 17 more than any other player.
What next?
Chelsea play an FA Cup quarter-final against Everton on Saturday (17:30 GMT) as they attempt to keep alive their last hopes of winning silverware this season. Whether we see the Blues in the Champions League remains to be seen as they are 10th in the Premier league and 10 points from a top-four spot.
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Chelsea
13Courtois
28Azpilicueta
24Cahill
2IvanovicBooked at 90mins
16Kenedy
12MikelBooked at 53mins
4FàbregasBooked at 45mins
17Pedro
22Willian
10HazardSubstituted forOscarat 77′minutes
19Diego CostaSubstituted forTraoreat 60′minutes
Substitutes
1Begovic
6Baba
8Oscar
14Traore
18Remy
21Matic
36Loftus-Cheek
Paris St G
16Trapp
5Marquinhos
2Thiago Silva
32David Luiz
17Maxwell
25RabiotBooked at 34mins
8MottaBooked at 41mins
14MatuidiBooked at 86minsSubstituted forVan der Wielat 87′minutes
11Di MaríaSubstituted forCavaniat 82′minutes
10Ibrahimovic
7Lucas MouraSubstituted forPastoreat 77′minutes
Substitutes
4Stambouli
9Cavani
20Kurzawa
23Van der Wiel
27Pastore
29Augustin
30Sirigu
Referee:
Dr. Felix Brych
Attendance:
37,591
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamParis St G
Possession
Home37%
Away63%
Shots
Home15
Away10
Shots on Target
Home7
Away5
Corners
Home5
Away4
Fouls
Home16
Away13
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Chelsea 1, Paris Saint Germain 2.
Full Time
Posted at 90′+2′
Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Paris Saint Germain 2.
Booking
Posted at 90′
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90′
Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90′
Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).
Posted at 90′
Foul by David Luiz (Paris Saint Germain).
Posted at 90′
Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 88′
Foul by Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain).
Posted at 88′
Oscar (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Posted at 87′
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Gregory Van der Wiel replaces Blaise Matuidi.
Posted at 87′
Thiago Silva (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87′
Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).
Booking
Posted at 86′
Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 86′
Foul by Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain).
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