Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired the winner as Chelsea's hopes of salvaging their season suffered a major blow when they lost 2-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain, bowing out 4-2 on aggregate in the Champions League last 16.
It was always going to be a difficult proposition against a strong PSG side and their task was made even harder when the visitors, who were leading 2-1 from the first-leg, opened the scoring courtesy of Adrien Rabiot's tap-in from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's sumptuous cross.
Chelsea responded with Diego Costa emerging as their great hope. The forward was mocked in Paris for wearing a 'superhero' protective mask in the lead up to the game, but he threatened to make those 'humorous' digs come back to haunt them, capping an all-action display with a fine first-half equaliser.
The home side struggled to lift themselves again in the second half and once Costa went off injured, it looked more likely that PSG would take control of the proceedings. And the visitors eventually grabbed a crucial second away goal on 67 minutes when Angel Di Maria crossed for Ibrahimovic to tuck home his 50th goal in UEFA competitions.
It meant Chelsea needed three to go through and they never looked like reducing the arrears as they game fizzled out. The Blues must now raise themselves for their FA Cup quarter final at Everton at the weekend as they bid to salvage something from a turbulent season.
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