PSG complete confortable aggregate win over Leverkusen

Champions League, Parc des Prince – Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Marquinhos 13’ Lavezzi 53’) Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Sam 6’). PSG win 6-1 on aggregate.

PSG progressed to the Champions League quarter finals with a 2-1 victory against Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen gave themselves hope with a goal on six minutes, when Sidney Sam headed in a Giulio Donati cross from the right wing. Hope promptly disappeared when Marquinhos thundered in a header from a corner seven minutes later.

There was another chance for the German side when Christophe Jallet conceded a penalty, pulling back Eren Derdiyok in the box. Rolfes struck his penalty firmly, but it was an easy save for Salvatore Sirigu to beat away.

Either side of the penalty, PSG had chances as Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the bar, and Edinson Cavani shot against Bernd Leno from point blank range.

PSG went ahead on 53 minutes when Lucas Digne pulled the ball back for Lavezzi to take one touch to finish at the near post.

Bayer responded by going close with shots from Donati and Derdiyok, both bringing saves from Sirigu, but the match essentially ended when Emre Can performed an obvious dive and received a second yellow card, allowing PSG an easy finish.

KEY EVENTS

6’ – SAM GOAL -  A Donati cross from the right wing is powered into the corner of the back post as Sam is left unmarked.

13’ – MARQUINHOS EQUALISER – The corner is swung in from the right and Marquinhosthunders in his header that Leno can only get a hand to but not stop crossing the line.

19’ – IBRAHIMOVIC HITS THE BAR – In space in the box, Ibrahimovic does brilliantly to chip the ‘keeper but it bounces off the woodwork.

27’ – ROLFES PENALTY – After Jallet pulls back Derdiyok, Rolfes has his penalty pushed away as Sirigu dives left.

38’ – CAVANI CHANCE – Spinning his marker after receiving a pass from Ibrahimovic, the striker shoots straight against Leno’s legs.

53’ – LAVEZZI GOAL – Digne finds Lavezzi’s run into the box with his low pass from the left wing, and the striker fires into the near side of the goal.

55’ – SIRIGU SAVE – Donati has space on the right of the box, but his fierce shot is palmed away.

68’ – CAN IS OFF – His second yellow, this for diving, Can leaves the pitch for a woeful attempt at deception.

84’ – PASTORE CHANCE – From close range, Javier Pastore smashes his shot against the ‘keeper’s chest.

KEY STATS

Paris SG are unbeaten in their last 28 home games in European competition.

Paris SG are unbeaten in their last six Champions League knockout games (W3 D3).

Paris SG are also unbeaten in their last six games against German clubs (4 wins, 2 draws), in all competitions.

Bayer Leverkusen have never progressed further than the last 16 of the Champions League since they were finalists in 2002.

Bayer Leverkusen have lost their last seven games in the Champions League knockout stages (6 goals for, 24 against).

Paris SG have scored in each of their last 16 Champions League games. The last time they failed to find the net was in Porto on 3 October 2012.

Leverkusen have never scored more than three goals away from home in the competition (in 36 outings).

TALKING POINT

How far can PSG go? They played well in the first leg, demolishing Bayer, but found it hard to get going in the second leg. The only way they can be assured of doing themselves justice is finding a way to rid themselves of any complacency. That job is the manager's, who has not yet proved his credentials at the highest level.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Marquinhos (PSG): On a night when his fellow defenders struggled to provide a solid base for the home side, Marquinhos defended resolutely and also equalised for his side.

PLAYER RATINGS

PSG: Sirigu 7, Jallet 6, Marquinhos 7, Thiago Silva 6, Digne 6, Pastore 5, Cabaye 5, Rabiot 5, Cavani 6, Ibrahimovic 6, Lavezzi 6. Subs: Camara 6, Menez 6, Lucas 6.

Leverkusen: Leno 6, Donati 6, Wollscheid 6, Toprak 6, Guardado 5, Rolfes 5, Reinartz 6, Can 5, Sam 6, Derdiyok 6, Castro 5. Subs: Heung-min 6, Brandt 5, Wagener 6.