Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Chelsea : Five Talking Points

Although Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verrati limped off before the final whistle, there was plenty for the Parisians to cheer about as the home side ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. Lavezzi was the star of the show as he scored one and made another, but it was Pastore's late goal that might just send PSG into the semi-finals.Here are the five major talking points from the game.

#1 Chelseas season is crumbling like a pack of cards

Up until a couple of weeks ago, Chelsea were flying high in the League, they had a relatively easy final run-in and were eagerly anticipating the clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. But two successive away defeats to relegation threatened clubs has left them in second place, two points behind Liverpool and two points ahead of City in third, who have two games in hand.

The League is now out of their hands and with this 3-1 defeat against PSG, it looks as though the Champions League is out of their hands as well. Things are looking far from rosy at Stamford Bridge as their floundering strikers and defenders have left their season hanging by a thread.

Unless Chelsea can come back at the Bridge next week, this might be a season that promised so much but has given them so little.

#2 Ezequiel Lavezzi outshines Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani

Coming into the game, all the talk was about the strike pairing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani. The duo had combined for 14 goals in the Champions League already and were looking hungry for more. But, when the final whistle blew, Ibrahimovic wasn’t even on the pitch and Cavani had one of his quieter days.

Instead, it was the Argentine attacking midfielder Ezequiel Lavezzi who shone the brightest. He was a constant thorn in the Chelsea defence and opened the scoring even before a single Chelsea player had a grass stain on his shirt. And he also helped PSG retake the lead just after the hour mark, as his free kick resulted in David Luiz putting the ball into his own net.

With Ibrahimovic out for the second leg, Chelsea better be wary of this Argentine attacker.

#3 Defensive failings cost Chelsea dear yet again

When Chelsea lost to Stoke away from the home in early December, it wasn’t the result that bothered Mourinho so much as the fact that they conceded three goals, ones that could have been easily avoided. Enough was enough for Mourinho and he brought in Nemanja Matic in January and the arrival of the Serbian has coincided with a return to their defensive form of old.

In 23 League and Cup matches, Chelsea have conceded just 13 goals, a run which included 13 clean sheets. But in the last two away games in the League, those familiar failings came back to haunt them as they lost them both.

Against PSG, Chelsea gave their worst defensive performance in the current Champions League campaign and were left on the brink of elimination. Neither centre halves looked in command and the less said about David Luiz’s performance the better. If they don’t revert back to their usual resolute defensive self, they might find themselves knocked out of yet another competition.

#4 PSG continue their imperious home form

Paris Saint-Germain had lost only one home game all season long and that was in the Coupe de France against Montpellier. Unbeaten in both the League and Champions League, the reigning French champions welcomed Chelsea onto their turf knowing fully well it was going to take something special to beat them at the Parc des Princes.

But their impressive midfield trio of Matuidi, Verrati and Motta ensured that nothing of that sort happened as they cruised to a comfortable victory over the reigning Europa League champions. On current form, it looks as though they might go through to the semis, and whoever they face will have their task cut out for them in Paris.

#5 Is it time for Courtois?

It was another night that ended with Mourinho launching into his strikers, and moaning about how he doesn’t have a "real striker". But the truth is that he would be better off focusing the blame elsewhere. In defence, for instance, nobody had a game to remember. And in Petr Cech he has a goal keeper who is increasingly looking like his best years are beyond him.

The Czech shot-stopper has undoubtedly been one of the club’s most faithful servants, but Wednesday night was just another example as to why Mourinho should seriously consider bringing back Thibaut Courtois as soon as possible. Cech's part in the second goal was shocking as he barely even reacted when the ball eluded everyone before striking David Luiz in the six-yard area.

And the fact that he let Pastore’s crucial goal in his near post is certainly inexcusable. Day by day, the number of reasons for sticking with Cech are dwindling and it is time Mourinho called back the best keeper in Europe at the moment to bring back some much needed stability in defense.