PSG suffer host of injuries ahead of clash with Chelsea.

As preparation for a looming Champions League showdown with Chelsea, this match couldn’t really have gone much worse for Paris Saint-Germain.

Not only did they surrender a two-goal lead in the final few minutes, blowing the opportunity to go top of Ligue 1, but they suffered no fewer than four fresh injury concerns as a routine victory turned into a real nightmare for Laurent Blanc.

Yohan Cabaye, Marquinhos, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura are all out for the London club’s visit on Tuesday after departing prematurely in an encounter where Valentine’s Day affection was in short supply.

Blaise Matuidi was rated just 50-50 to make the last 16, first leg tie by Blanc afterwards, who described the injury crisis as an ‘extraordinary challenge’.

Cabaye was the first to drop, suffering an adductor muscle injury on the quarter-hour and having to be replaced by Adrien Rabiot. Marquinhos then didn’t emerge after half-time because of a thigh injury, David Luiz taking his place.

And PSG ended the afternoon with a mere nine men after Aurier, stricken by a quadricep injury, was carried off on a stretcher literally seconds after the final substitute had been made and Lucas then voluntarily walked off to protect an adductor knock he was carrying.

Javier Pastore, who played no part, is another doubt for Tuesday and has not played for a fortnight with a thigh problem.

Blanc could not guarantee his fitness though Thiago Motta should return after being rested.

‘This is a very hard scenario to accept with the score and the injured players,’ said a despondent Blanc. ‘If someone had told me this story, I would not have believed it.

‘We will play bravely but there are not many solutions, with four or five injured, it will count against us.

‘You must have a reaction of pride and overcome the difficulties. It is an extraordinary challenge.’

Jose Mourinho, sat watching events unfold from home with his Chelsea team out of the FA Cup, must have permitted himself a wry smile as his next set of opponents dropped like flies.

Source:Dailymail.