Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz will have the tricky task of marking Diego Costa when the Ligue 1 giants travel to London to take on Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, but the Brazilian isn’t worried about the tough challenge that awaits him.
Luiz has much experience of playing against Chelsea’s first-choice striker Costa as the pair have been embroiled in several clashes in Europe’s elite competition over the last two years.
The PSG defender will once again have to keep a close watch on Costa when PSG take on Chelsea in their Champions League last-16 second-leg match at Stamford Bridge this week, as Laurent Blanc’s men aim to progress into the quarter-finals at the expense of the reigning Premier League champions for the second consecutive year.
And Luiz admits his compatriot Costa, who has scored 10 goals in his last 14 games, will be difficult to contain on Wednesday, but says he knows exactly how to handle the in-form striker at the Bridge.
“He’s a big friend,” Luiz said of Costa.
“Diego is a great player and his style of play is to play with contact, to speak, to intimidate. He tries to get defenders yellow cards.
“For all the match, he is bang, bang, bang.
“He can hit you on the head during the match and then after the match come and embrace you.”
PSG take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg this week thanks to Edinson Cavani’s late goal in the first leg in Paris last month, although Chelsea can boast of an away goal courtesy of John Obi Mikel.
However, Luiz believes – very much like his teammate Lucas Moura – that PSG are better placed to qualify for the next round, although he concedes Chelsea will not make things easy for the French side.
“I think things are looking good for us to qualify,” he added.
“I’m ready for war, for the battle.
“I love giving everything for my team. I know very well it’s not easy to play at Chelsea. They know how to get results. We have to be careful.”
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