Avenging Zlatan Ibrahimovic fires Paris Saint-Germain past Chelsea and into Champions League quarter-finals

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one and created another as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League for the second season running.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg of the last 16 tie, PSG stretched their lead when Ibrahimovic crossed for Adrien Rabiot to tap in and although Diego Costa’s slick finish gave Chelsea hope, Ibrahimovic volleyed home in the 67th minute to complete a 4-2 aggregate success.

Victory took Laurent Blanc’s PSG into the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row, while Chelsea were left to contemplate a first season without Champions League football since 2002-03.

“I thought we controlled the game very well from start to finish,” Blanc said.

“Even when we conceded, we weren’t worried. We carried on working. That control made the evening easier for us.”

Ten points off the top four in the Premier League, Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are paper-thin and their chances of keeping their season alive in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Everton were jeopardised by injuries to Costa and Eden Hazard.

“They are a good side, but once we stepped up we had some chances. In the 67th minute it all changed,” said Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink.

“It is a difficult season. We were almost panicking about relegation when I came in, but it is difficult to get into fourth place.”