CLUB RECORDS: Chelsea have kept eight consecutive clean sheets at Stamford Bridge, but PSG are on a club-record run of 11 successive wins and have lost by two clear goals only once in their last 110 fixtures. PHOTO: AFP
Javier Pastore's 90th-minute solo goal in last week's first leg at Parc des Princes gave PSG a two-goal advantage that puts them firmly in control of the tie ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Only 24% of the teams to have lost 3-1 in the away leg of a Uefa tie since 1970 have gone on to reach the next round, but Chelsea can take heart from the fact that they pulled off just such a feat two years ago.
A 3-1 defeat at Napoli in the last 16 precipitated the sacking of coach Andre Villas-Boas, but his successor, Roberto di Matteo, oversaw a 4-1 win after extra time in the return leg, before leading the west London club to victory on penalties over Bayern Munich in the final.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has never lost a European quarter-final, and defeat by PSG would be doubly difficult for the Portuguese to swallow in the light of Di Matteo's achievement in 2012 and last year's Europa League success under interim manager Rafael Benitez.
Mourinho is relishing the prospect of Tuesday's game beneath the lights in west London, declaring that his side can approach the match ‘without fear’.
"I want to enjoy the game,” said Mourinho. “I enjoy the difficulty.
"Now we know that we need to win 2-0, 3-1, 4-1, 5-2. We know that we need a crazy result against Paris. We must be ready to go without fear, go at them, and see what happens.
"If we have to lose after a magnificent night of football, a magnificent night of emotion, we have to lose."
On the other hand, beaten by Barcelona in the quarter-finals last season, PSG are seeking to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1995.
Ronaldo returns, Dortmund pray for Real miracle
Borussia Dortmund insist they have not given up hope of a Champions League miracle in Tuesday's quarter-final, second leg against Real Madrid, even with the Spaniards holding a 3-0 lead.
Last season's finalists Dortmund stand on the verge of a Champions League exit as they need to over-turn the huge deficit at their Westfalenstadion after last Wednesday's defeat at Madrid's Bernabeu.
World player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo is set to start after he was forced off with a slight knee problem towards the end of the first leg, having scored Real's third goal, and was rested for Saturday's 4-0 win away to Real Sociedad.
The 29-year-old Portugal star trained with the Madrid squad on Sunday and looks set to travel to northern Germany.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with how his side coped without Ronaldo as goals from Asier Illarramendi, Gareth Bale, Pepe and Alvaro Morata sealed a convincing victory at Sociedad.
Madrid's Italian manager was particularly pleased not to have picked up any more injuries.
"This victory reinforces the team and, moreover, we avoided injuries and showed a good level physically," he said.
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