The Champions League anthem is recognized globally, but Aston Villa`s match against Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park began with an unexpected tune – the Europa League anthem.
As teams gathered on the pitch, the incorrect anthem played, causing visible confusion among some players. However, the correct Champions League music was quickly started before the crucial quarterfinal second leg.
This unusual incident, while humorous, is a rare occurrence, similar to a past error with Uruguay at the 2016 Copa America.
Regarding the game itself, PSG demonstrated their strength early on. Despite only four losses this season and a seven-game unbeaten streak post-Liverpool defeat, PSG quickly scored against Villa. Achraf Hakimi`s goal in the 11th minute capitalized on a mistake by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Nuno Mendes added another goal in the first half, putting PSG in a strong position for the semifinals.
The match was available to watch live on Paramount+.
Dominic Ashworth