LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - Defending champions Paris St Germain humbled Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, laying down the gauntlet for European challengers with a crushing 8-2 aggregate last-16 victory in the Champions League.
The French side, playing with Gallic brio, took six minutes to open their account when first-leg substitute hero Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a third goal to his tally in the tie, pouncing on an all too familiar Chelsea defensive blunder, this time by Mamadou Sarr.
Advertisement
It was the Georgian's arrival on the pitch in Paris a week ago that heralded Chelsea's Champions League demise when they conceded three goals in a whirlwind last 15 minutes to put the tie out of reach.
On Tuesday they had to attack, which only highlighted their defensive frailties.
They were caught on the counter-attack in the 15th minute with a fine finish from Bradley Barcola and 19-year-old PSG substitute Senny Mayulu added a third in the 62nd minute.
Chelsea laboured in front of goal with 18 shots, half of them on target. PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov did pull off two good saves just before halftime but he was not otherwise greatly challenged.
Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior, who must now focus on qualifying for the Champions League next season, substituted his top players Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez before an hour had been played.
And the home side rounded off a miserable night playing the last five minutes with 10 men after defender Trevoh Chalobah was carried off injured and Rosenior had used all five substitutes.
PSG will meet either Liverpool or Galatasaray in the quarter-finals next month.
(Reporting by Clare Lovell, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Toby Davis)
