Carlo Ancelotti led PSG to the quarter-final of the Champions League for the first time in 18 years last night as they edged out Valencia 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes.
The Ligue 1 leaders had looked well on course for comfortable qualification towards the end of the first leg, but a late goal from the Spanish side and a red card for the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave last nights visitors hope for the second leg.
Without their main attacking threat and hanging on to a 2-1 lead, PSG were content enough to adopt a cautious approach in front of their own fans, whilst Valencia were going all out for goals knowing that they needed to score at least 2 to have a chance of progressing.
Despite the circumstances it was PSG who fashioned the first clear chance, with Ibrahimovic's replacement Lucas Moura dragging a shot wide.
Valencia came close themselves soon after as Roberto Soldado played a neat one-two with Jonas only for the former to strike straight at Salvatore Sirigu. The goalkeeper was busy again towards the end of the half, this time saving from Jonas himself, but it was the only real chance in the remainder of the half as both sides lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Finally, after 55 minutes, a goal came for Valencia and it was Jonas at the centre of it again as he struck home past Sirigu from 25 yards out.
The visitors pressed for a second goal but were leaving themselves susceptible to the counter attack, and Ezequiel Lavezzi was sent through by Blaise Matuidi to no avail before substitute Kevin Gameiro had a go and sending the Argentine through, this time Lavezzi was able to convert to make it 1-1.
PSG were able to soak up everything Valencia threw at them after the equaliser, meaning that Carlo Ancelotti becomes just the second manager to bring 4 different sides into the quarter-final of the Champions League.
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