{"id":93822,"date":"2026-03-11T18:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/joao-pedro-shining-brightest-as-chelsea-brace-for-psg-reunion-champions-league\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:00:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:00:35","slug":"joao-pedro-shining-brightest-as-chelsea-brace-for-psg-reunion-champions-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/joao-pedro-shining-brightest-as-chelsea-brace-for-psg-reunion-champions-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Jo\u00e3o Pedro shining brightest as Chelsea brace for PSG reunion | Champions League"},"content":{"rendered":"

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J<\/span>o\u00e3o Pedro had been a Chelsea player for less than two weeks when he faced Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup last summer. The settling-in period was intense. The forward had an impactful substitute appearance when he made his debut in the quarter-final win over Palmeiras, struck a clinical double when Fluminense were downed in the semi-finals and then, on a thrilling, sweaty afternoon in New Jersey, delivered the coup de grace when Chelsea became world champions thanks to a stunning demolition of PSG<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was 3-0 when Jo\u00e3o Pedro lifted a clever finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43rd minute, and the manner of the humiliation was hard for PSG to accept. Heads were scrambled as the newly crowned European champions felt their aura of invincibility ebb away at the end of an epic season. Jo\u00e3o Neves was shown a red card for a tangle with Marc Cucurella \u2013 who else? \u2013 and the loss of discipline even involved Luis Enrique, the PSG manager, appearing to slap Jo\u00e3o Pedro in the face when a mass brawl broke out at full-time.<\/p>\n

No doubt there will be scores to settle in round two when the sides meet in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League<\/a> tie at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night. For PSG, it is a chance to show that losing to Chelsea was a one-off at the end of a draining, trophy-laden campaign. Motivation is unlikely to be an issue, even if Luis Enrique insists that revenge is not on the agenda. Do not expect a warm reaction from the locals if Chelsea do another of those pre-match halfway-line huddles. Chelsea, with nine red cards this season, will need cool heads if they are to head back to London with hope before next week\u2019s second leg.<\/p>\n

It is tough to call. PSG have underwhelmed this season \u2013 they are top of Ligue 1 by a point after losing 3-1 to Monaco last Friday, were plunged into a playoff after finishing 11th in the Champions League mega-table and have looked weary since the Club World Cup. Injuries have taken a toll and new signings have not worked out. There have been flashes of infighting and the jury remains out on the decision to sell Donnarumma to Manchester City<\/a> and replace the Italy goalkeeper with Lucas Chevalier.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Jo\u00e3o Pedro has flourished since Liam Rosenior was appointed Chelsea\u2019s head coach.<\/span> Photograph: Jacob King\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yet PSG remain formidable opposition. Fabi\u00e1n Ruiz has a knee injury but Vitinha is exceptional in midfield and there are hopes that Neves will return from a sore ankle. In attack, Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 will be looking to right some wrongs against a Chelsea<\/a> defence yet to keep a clean sheet in an away game in Europe this season.<\/p>\n

Chelsea, for their part, have seen that they can punish PSG. The gameplan was superbly executed in the Club World Cup final. The midfield pressed high, Robert S\u00e1nchez delivered long diagonals over the PSG left-back, Nuno Mendes, and the setup ensured there was space for Cole Palmer to decide the game with a virtuoso display.<\/p>\n

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\nQuick Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

Rosenior coy on choice of S\u00e1nchez or J\u00f6rgensen<\/h4>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Show<\/span><\/span><\/summary>\n

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Liam Rosenior refused to offer any hints over who will start in goal for Chelsea when they face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesdaay night. The head coach has a decision to make between Robert S\u00e1nchez and Filip J\u00f6rgensen but was happy to keep people guessing before the first leg of his side\u2019s last-16 Champions League tie at the Parc des Princes.<\/p>\n

S\u00e1nchez has been Chelsea\u2019s first choice this season, started against Wrexham in the FA Cup last Saturday and played a starring role during last summer\u2019s victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final. However, the Spaniard struggled against Arsenal this month and watched from the bench when Chelsea beat Aston Villa three days later.<\/p>\n

J\u00f6rgensen was given the nod against Villa and there is a chance the former Villarreal goalkeeper comes back into the starting lineup against PSG. That would potentially signify that S\u00e1nchez has lost his place as first choice but Rosenior was giving nothing away before facing the European champions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this squad, every position is a difficult position,\u201d Rosenior said. \u201cThat\u2019s how it has to be for us to be successful. We have a fantastic squad, top players. Not even just the starting XI, making a decision who\u2019s on the bench is difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the job that I\u2019m here to do. We\u2019ll make that decision in terms of the goalkeeping position, in terms of the No 9 or No 10 or No 7 position. I\u2019ve said before, for me, the goalkeeper position is no different to an outfield position. I will pick what I think is the right choice for each game. You\u2019ll see what decision I make tomorrow on the team sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chelsea, who were managed by Enzo Maresca at the time, stunned PSG at the Club World Cup. There were angry scenes at the end of the game, with a mass brawl breaking out and the PSG manager, Luis Enrique, appearing to hit the Chelsea striker Jo\u00e3o Pedro in the face. Yet Rosenior is not worried about any needle between the sides.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are at the top level, at the elite level, you need passion,\u201d Rosenior said. You need to have a want to win. Luis Enrique, What a player he was. He could play any position on the pitch and he\u2019s taken that intelligence into his unbelievable managerial career. He\u2019s someone who really knows how much I respect him. If you are used to winning, you have to have an edge. It can\u2019t always be nice. That\u2019s finished. That\u2019s gone. What we do know is we have to have, within the limits, a passion about us, an intensity to win this game. Because PSG will. That\u2019s what it takes to win trophies.\u201d Jacob Steinberg<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n