For long periods in Paris there was a sense of all our yesterdays about them, suggesting that victory in Europe could be repeated.
That they face such a challenge to progress was down to another throwback to that stunning success under Roberto Di Matteo.
For PSG’s Edinson Cavani came off the bench in the 74th minute and claimed the winner just four minutes later.
At the corresponding stage in 2011-12, the Uruguayan hitman scored for Napoli as they beat the Blues 3-1 at home.
Chelsea famously came back to beat the Italians 4-1 at home after extra-time and now they have a slightly less daunting task in a three weeks time.
Price Comparison: Paris St-Germain v ChelseaTuesday, 16th February 2016
CHELSEA and Paris St-Germain are two clubs who have spent their way to success in recent seasons. But of their current line-ups, which side cost the most? We do the maths. All transfer fees are taken from transfermarkt.com.
The season the Blues beat mighty Bayern Munich in a penalty shoot-out in the final they were also pretty shoddy in the league.
Granted four years ago they were only 15 points off the top of the table, not 20 like now.
But there was plenty of similarities tonight in the Parc des Princes.
Keeper Thibaut Courtois might have done better for Cavani’s goal but otherwise he denied PSG much in the way Petr Cech often did opponents in that glory season.
Elsewhere Chelsea worked tirelessly, defended as if their season, if not their lives, depended on it, and were excellent on the counter-attack once again.
Possession-wise the 35 per cent was similar to many games in that campaign.
The one minus was yet another uninspiring display by Eden Hazard.
He said before the match he would find it hard to turn down if PSG came calling. On this display it is unlikely the phone will be ringing and he was hooked for Oscar in the 71st minute.
One of the heroes of the 2012 final was John Obi Mikel.
Him scoring in the Champions League is almost as rare as an interview with Roman Abramovich.
But the holding midfielder claimed a crucial one to cheer the silent billionaire. His strike was the culmination of an amazing seven minutes Mikel will never forgot.
For before claiming only his second goal in the competition, the other came at home to Sporting Lisbon in December 2014, he got himself booked and then deflected into his own goal the free-kick for his transgression.
Mikel was cautioned for bringing down Lucas in the 38th minute. It was to prove costly as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s low free-kick deflected off the half-turning Mikel’s shin in the Chelsea wall, and deceived Courtois.
Ex-Chelsea star David Luiz showed how to block in a wall soon after as he leapt to keep Willian’s effort away from goal.
But from the corner just before the break, Mikel got his revenge.
Willian took it and after skimming off Costa’s head it landed perfectly for the onrushing Nigerian to lash home gleefully with his right foot.
Away goals are precious at this stage of the Champions League and although Chelsea looked at times like they could be overwhelmed by the might of PSG - they are a staggering 24 points clear in France - they were so dangerous on the break.
PSG dominated possession but Courtois was in fine form, and the men in front of him also giving their all.
Without his two first-choice centre-halves, the injured John Terry and Kurt Zouma, Hiddink was forced to move Branislav Ivanovic across from right-back to partner Gary Cahill and brought in Baba Rahman. They did not let him down.
Despite PSG’s early dominance, Chelsea suddenly almost scored in the 23rd minute.
An inviting ball in from Rahman was perfect for Costa to meet with a header.
It looked a goal but keeper Kevin Trapp threw up his right hand to tip on the bar and for a corner.
Another Chelsea counter-attack soon after the restart saw Willian play Costa into the box, but his attempted dinked shot over Trapp was not high enough and the keeper blocked.
Courtois tipped over a screamer from Di Maria and Ivanovic blocked an Ibrahimovic attempt as the Paris side responded.
Belgian keeper Courtois also did well to keep out a rasping drive from the lively Lucas in the 61st minute.
But Courtois let himself down slightly when Angel Di Maria played in Cavani and his angled shot slipped under his body.
But before and after he was impressive, denying Ibrahimovic late on.
