Aston Villa will face PSG at home on Tuesday for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg. In the first leg, PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, defeated Aston Villa 3-1 at Parc des Princes. To reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 1982, when they won their only title, Aston Villa needs to score at least two goals. PSG, having already secured the French league title, is fully focused on European success after being eliminated in the semifinals last season by Borussia Dortmund. Luis Enrique was appointed in the summer of 2023 with the primary goal of winning the Champions League with PSG, a feat they haven`t achieved after losing the 2020 final to Bayern Munich. To advance, PSG must overcome Aston Villa and their former coach Unai Emery. Emery`s tactical acumen was evident in the first leg, despite the final score. Here’s a preview of the match, including how to watch and key details.
Match Details and Betting Odds
- Date: Tuesday, April 15
- Location: Villa Park — Birmingham, England
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Aston Villa +230; Draw +260; PSG +110
First Leg Recap
PSG won the first leg 3-1 in Paris. Despite Aston Villa scoring first through Morgan Rogers on a counter-attack, PSG responded with two excellent goals from Desire Doue from outside the box and a solo effort from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia early in the second half. Nuno Mendes scored late in the game, sealing a 3-1 victory for PSG.
PSG`s Perspective
Luis Enrique stated that he respects Aston Villa`s potential. He emphasized their focus is on solving the challenges Aston Villa will present and securing a win to advance to the semifinals. He acknowledged the historical significance of Villa Park as a source of motivation, not a problem, for his players.
Aston Villa`s Perspective
Unai Emery acknowledged the difficulty of facing PSG in the second leg. He highlighted the need for Aston Villa to execute their game plan effectively, win individual battles, and for players to perform at their best. Despite the first-leg result, Emery believes Aston Villa showed their ability to compete and still has a chance to win. He stressed the importance of using Villa Park as a fortress and believing in their chances.
Projected Starting Lineups
Aston Villa XI: Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans; John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers; Marcus Rashford.
PSG XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue.
Player Spotlight
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG — Kvaratskhelia, PSG`s January signing, scored a fantastic goal in the first leg and has been a key player for the team. His performances are crucial to PSG`s Champions League ambitions.
Key Storyline
Emiliano Martinez vs PSG — Aston Villa`s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, was a central figure in the first leg due to his past rivalry with French fans stemming from the 2022 World Cup final. He faced whistles throughout the match in Paris after Argentina`s victory over France in the World Cup final.
Match Prediction
Despite Aston Villa`s potential to score, overcoming a 3-1 deficit against PSG will be a significant challenge. It`s predicted that Aston Villa will draw with PSG in the second leg, but PSG will advance to the semifinals based on their first-leg advantage. Predicted Score: Aston Villa 2, PSG 2.
Dominic Ashworth