
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc took a gamble on Tuesday by selecting David Luiz in midfield for the Champions League last 16, first leg against Chelsea at the Parc des Princes.
The Brazilian, who scored an own-goal as a Chelsea player in a 3-1 win for PSG when the clubs met in the French capital in the first leg of the quarter-finals last season, steps forward from his usual position in central defence.
He will play in the holding role with both Thiago Motta and Yohan Cabaye missing due to injury, with Blanc gambling on the fitness of Marquinhos.
The young defender partners Thiago Silva at the back just three days after coming off injured against Caen in a 2-2 draw in Ligue 1.
There are fewer surprises in the Chelsea line-up with Blues manager Jose Mourinho having a near full-strength squad at his disposal, barring the injured John Obi Mikel.
Gary Cahill is preferred to Frenchman Kurt Zouma in central defence alongside captain John Terry while Thibaut Courtois, as expected, gets the nod in goal ahead of Petr Cech.
Diego Costa leads the line on his first appearance since the end of January after serving a three-game domestic ban.
Starting line-ups in the Champions League last 16, first-leg tie between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday (kick-off 1945 GMT):
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3):
Sirigu; van der Wiel, Silva (capt), Marquinhos, Maxwell; Verratti, David Luiz, Matuidi; Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi
Coach: Laurent Blanc (FRA)
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (capt), Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa
Manager: Jose Mourinho (POR)
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (TUR)
Source: AFP
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