Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain: Laurent Blanc faces late decision on Marco Verratti fitness

Laurent Blanc remains uncertain over the availability of Marco Verratti for Paris Saint-Germain's crucial Champions League encounter with Chelsea on 9 March. The highly rated Italian midfielder missed the Ligue 1 defeat to Lyon and subsequent matches against both Saint-Etienne and Montpellier with a groin injury.

While Verratti has travelled to London for the last-16 second-leg tie, a final decision on his fitness will be taken in the aftermath of a training session to be held at Stamford Bridge this evening. Blaise Matuidi is expected to play despite missing PSG's goalless draw with Montpellier due to a thigh problem, while former Manchester United playmaker Angel di Maria recently returned from a similar issue.

As for Chelsea, Guus Hiddink will have Diego Costa back in contention following a minor tendon injury that forced him to sit out against Stoke last weekend. Pedro has recovered from a hamstring problem, while Kenedy is also back from a groin complaint suffered against Norwich City. French defender Kurt Zouma is expected to miss the rest of the season and potentially even the European Championship finals on home soil after undergoing surgery on a damaged anterior cruciate ligament last month.

John Terry, meanwhile, has confirmed that he will also definitely miss the fixture. The club's captain has not featured since limping out of a 5-1 victory over Newcastle United with a hamstring strain in mid-February and did not join his teammates for a final training stint on Tuesday (8 March) as he continued his individual fitness work.

"I'm gutted to be missing the PSG game," he said on Instagram. "It's so frustrating missing any game, but these big Champions League nights at the Bridge are unbelievable and it hurts as a player not to be involved. I have thrown everything at my injury trying to get back fit but sometimes you have to let the injury settle, and thankfully I'm on the mend and hope to be back soon."