Chelsea take advantage but will rue defensive slip

PSG 1 Chelsea 1

For Chelsea, there was a measure of satisfaction but maybe a hint of exasperation too. They had struck first, courtesy of another new entry in Branislav Ivanovic’s portfolio of important goals, but what they could not do was further enhance their reputation as possibly the best team anywhere when it comes to soaking up pressure and holding on to the lead.

José Mourinho will certainly be aggrieved by the uncharacteristic lapses that let in Edinson Cavani to equalise nine minutes into the second half and, re-energised, the Uruguayan created enough problems during the last half an hour to remind Chelsea that at this level the advantage of taking an away goal into the return leg is only a slight one.

Ultimately, though, it was still a reasonable night’s work from Mourinho’s team.

Chelsea’s spells of conservatism might not appeal to everyone on these nights but nobody could dispute they are highly accomplished when it comes to making sure it is they, rather than their opponents, who dictate the pace of the game. It suited them to play with a slow tempo, to take the sting out of the occasion, make sure their opponents could not build too much momentum during the early part of the match, then try to pick them off. And they do it so well that it makes perfect sense to stick to their strengths.

They might not be the most exciting team on the planet, or the most daring, but they are hugely effective and it is not as if Mourinho is against the odd moment of adventure. Chelsea actually scored more times than any other side in the group stages and Ivanovic's goal was created by a combination of John Terry and Gary Cahill.

How many other occasions will there be in the Champions League's knockout stages when one centre half crosses, another flicks on and the right back is there to apply the finishing touch. Ivanovic operates like an old-fashioned centre forward when he is in the opposition's penalty area and his header was guided expertly beyond Salvatore Sirigu in the home goal.

Until that point Chelsea had needed Thibaut Courtois to demonstrate why Mourinho had restored him to the team. It was a huge show of faith in the Belgian bearing in mind Petr Cech’s performance in their game against Everton last week and Courtois certainly justified his selection with the near-post save to turn away Cavani’s header a couple of minutes before Ivanovic’s goal.

His other stops also came from headers, first from Blaise Matuidi and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and both those chances came in the space of 45 seconds. Chelsea were troubled only sporadically otherwise and there was never any prolonged spell in the first half when it felt like Laurent Blanc's side were really endangering their opponents.

Chelsea's tactics after that meant Diego Costa was often an isolated figure in their attack. Fortunately for Mourinho's side, Costa always gives the impression he will chase everything and does not mind greatly if he is outnumbered. Cesc Fàbregas dropped further back into midfield, joining Nemanja Matic and Ramires in protecting the Chelsea back four and the disappointment for Mourinho will be the nature of the goal that encouraged PSG just as it had started to look like they were running low on ideas.

The most obvious lapse was Cahill’s, getting under the cross from Matuidi and not generally being close enough to Cavani. Yet he was not alone. The delivery had come from the left after Ivanovic deserted his position and left Willian with two men to pick up. It was unusual to see Chelsea being prone to this kind of carelessness and Cavani is not the kind of opponent to be generous, flashing his header past the exposed Courtois. This was his sixth goal in seven Champions League ties, extending PSG’s run of scoring in home matches to 19 in this competition.

That moment entirely changed the complexion of the evening and a few minutes later it needed a fortunate block by César Azpilicueta to keep out Ezequiel Lavezzi’s goal-bound shot. Courtois had saved Ibrahimovic’s initial effort and for the first time there was the sense that Chelsea might be slightly rattled.

They did regain their composure but Cavani continued to be a menace, wriggling clear at one point before stabbing a shot just past the post. Marco Verratti's indefatigable running was a prominent feature and David Luiz, also operating in midfield, played well against his former club.

Throughout large parts of the second half, Chelsea hardly emerged as an attacking force whatsoever. Mourinho’s team were more fixated on ensuring Courtois was not beaten again and they defended with great togetherness in the face of some concerted pressure during the closing stages.

In stoppage time, Ibrahimovic had another headed chance to win the game but he could not get enough power in his neck muscles. Courtois was in the way and ultimately Ivanovic’s goal establishes Chelsea as the marginal favourites for when the teams renew acquaintances at Stamford Bridge on March 11th.

(Guardian service)