UCL Preview: PSG host Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League continues tomorrow as the holders play the first leg of their Round of 16 tie against Chelsea at the Parc des Princes. Get the latest with our match preview.

Rosenior's return

Roughly two months after leaving RC Strasbourg to take over at Chelsea, Liam Rosenior is back in France. The young English manager, who garnered a reputation as being somewhat of a firebrand who favored a high-octane style of football has had somewhat mixed results in London, but his team are in a good position in the league (and still in the running for the FA Cup) and will be eager to make a statement after over-running Pafos and Napoli in Rosenior's two previous matches in the competition. 

Speaking pre-match, the manager reflected that much like his time at Strasbourg, he takes pleasure in working with a young side and seeing their improvement and potential. "If they are a younger player, their ceiling is higher, their potential to grow is higher. That’s one of the reasons why I’m here. I love working with this group and I am very excited because of the age of the group. I have 22 players like that to work with every day. It’s not only about their ability, quality and physicality, it’s their temperament. They are humble and want to improve and learn. I am very excited about where we can go on that journey."

To help his young side take on the Ligue 1 McDonald's leaders, he'll look to several familiar faces, including two who worked under him in Alsace, in the form of Mamadou Sarr and Andrey Santos. Both young players came on leaps and bounds under Rosenior, and their play on return from loan has been impressive. Wesley Fofana, formerly of Saint-Étienne, as well as Lyon academy graduate Malo Gusto, are also under consideration, albeit with Gusto likely behind captain Reece James. With Levi Colwill the visitors' only major absence, PSG will have to be ready to face down a full-strength Chelsea.

Focus. 😤#UCL pic.twitter.com/Enqm9svWrt

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 10, 2026

Barcola or Doué?

As for the hosts, their own fitness issues have markedly improved -- Fabián Ruiz is the only major absence for Luis Enrique's side, but that doesn't mean that the manager won't have selection headaches. With Ousmane Dembélé fully fit, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner will lead the line, but on the left, the manager will have to choose between Bradley Barcola or Désiré Doué. Barcola has been in top form, having scored in three of the team's last four matches while Dembélé recovered -- he now has ten Ligue 1 McDonald's goals to his name. But Doué has shown a penchant for the big occasion, having been the best player for the capital side across two legs against AS Monaco in the previous round, leaving Enrique with a tough choice.

Enrique was coy when pressed on his choice at today's press conference, saying when asked of Barcola's potential role, "We know that all of the players have a favorite position, but wherever Bradley plays on the pitch, he can help the team, and that's what matters the most. We and the players are able to adapt, and everything also depends on how a particular match is going."

No matter who he picks, having the luxury of being able to bring on one of the top young French talents will surely be a matter of confidence for PSG, who will look to get a decisive result ahead of next Tuesday's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Predicted lineups:

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Barcola

Chelsea FC (4-3-3): Jorgenson; James, Fofana, Chalobah (or Sarr), Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos, Fernandez; Palmer, Pedro, Neto

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