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Sports / Football

Clinical PSG thrash Chelsea to reach Champions League quarters

Published: 18 Mar 2026 - 01:15 am | Last Updated: 18 Mar 2026 - 01:16 am
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

AFP

London: Paris Saint-Germain snuffed out any chance of a Chelsea comeback with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among the scorers in a clinical 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge yesterday which took the holders through to the Champions League quarter-finals 8-2 on aggregate.

The Georgian's early opener was soon followed by a brilliant Bradley Barcola strike, quickly ending Chelsea's hopes of turning around their 5-2 deficit from the first leg of the last 16 tie last week.

Substitute Senny Mayulu then fired in PSG's third in the second half, as Luis Enrique's men march on to a last-eight tie next month against either Liverpool or Galatasaray -- the Turkish side go to Anfield with a 1-0 first-leg advantage on Wednesday.

PSG's dream of retaining the Champions League title remains very much alive, a year after winning the trophy for the first time in their history.

The Qatar-backed side's comprehensive victory in this tie gives them revenge for their loss to the Blues in last July's Club World Cup final, and indicates that they might be finding their very best form again at just the right time.

This was their fourth win in a two-legged knockout tie against Premier League opposition since the start of last year, but while that record is impressive, Chelsea looked a long way short of the level required in Europe's elite club competition.

Liam Rosenior's team never really appeared to believe they could come back from their collapse six days ago at the Parc des Princes, when they conceded three late goals to go from 2-2 to 5-2 down.