Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Aston Villa this Wednesday for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. PSG is coming off a high after securing their 13th French Ligue 1 title, achieving this feat with six games remaining in the 2024-25 season. Unai Emery, Aston Villa`s coach and former PSG manager (2016-2018), will be returning to Paris for this match. The winner of this quarterfinal will proceed to face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semifinals, scheduled for late April and early May.
PSG, who are also aiming for the French Cup title, are heavily focused on Champions League success after past disappointments, including a semifinal loss to Borussia Dortmund last season and a final defeat against Bayern Munich in 2020. This match marks the first-ever encounter between PSG and Aston Villa, making it a unique fixture in this season`s quarterfinals.
PSG will be without Lee Kang-In due to injury and Marquinhos due to suspension for the Aston Villa game. Here’s a preview of the match, including viewing details and more:
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, April 9
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Parc des Princes, Paris, France
Head-to-Head History
This is the first time PSG and Aston Villa are playing against each other. For PSG, this is their fifth game against an English team this season.
Journey to the Quarterfinals
Aston Villa surprisingly topped their group to reach this stage. They then defeated Club Brugge to advance to the quarterfinals. PSG had a more challenging group stage but secured their place in the knockout rounds, eventually overcoming Liverpool in the round of 16.
Projected Starting Lineups
PSG XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola.
Aston Villa XI: Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans; John McGinn, Marco Asensio, Morgan Rogers; Marcus Rashford.
Key Player Spotlight
Ousmane Dembele, PSG: Since Kylian Mbappe`s departure, Dembele has become a central figure for PSG, contributing significantly with goals and assists. He is having his most prolific season, making him a player to watch in this crucial match.
Intriguing Storyline
Unai Emery`s Return to PSG: Emery, now managing Aston Villa, will face his former team. A victory against PSG would significantly enhance his reputation as a top European coach.
Match Prediction
PSG is favored to win this first leg and is considered a strong contender to reach the Champions League semifinals. Prediction: PSG 3, Aston Villa 1.
Dominic Ashworth