Aston Villa will host PSG on Tuesday for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. In the first leg, PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, defeated the English team 3-1 at Parc des Princes. Aston Villa needs to score at least two goals to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1982. In 1982, they won their only Champions League title, defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final.
PSG has already secured the French league title and is now focused on the Champions League. Last season, they were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals. Since joining PSG in the summer of 2023, Luis Enrique`s main goal has been to win the Champions League for the first time in the club`s history. They reached the final in 2020 but lost to Bayern Munich managed by Hansi Flick.
To advance, PSG must defeat Aston Villa and their former coach Unai Emery. Emery`s tactical skills were evident in the first leg, despite the final score. Here’s a preview of the match, including how to watch and more:
How to watch Aston Villa vs PSG
- Date: Tuesday, April 15
- Location: Villa Park — Birmingham, England
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Aston Villa +230; Draw +260; PSG +110
The first leg
PSG won 3-1 in Paris. Aston Villa initially took the lead with a goal from Morgan Rogers on a counter-attack. However, 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 just before the end of the match, securing a 3-1 victory for PSG, giving them a significant advantage for the second leg.
What PSG are saying
Luis Enrique stated that he respects Aston Villa`s potential. He said, “Our objectives are clear: to solve the problems that Aston Villa will create for us during the game and to win. Only one team will qualify for the semi-finals after tomorrow`s match. This is what makes this competition exciting. We are not overconfident, but determined to handle the challenges Aston Villa will present. It`s always a pleasure to play in a stadium with such history. Our players are used to it, and it motivates us.”
What Aston Villa are saying
Unai Emery discussed the difficulty of facing PSG in the pre-match press conference. “We must implement our game plan as effectively as possible and understand how to win individual battles on the field. The players are the key; they need to perform at their best. In the first leg, playing away, the result favored them. They demonstrated their strengths in this competition and against us. However, we also showed our ability to compete and get close, with the potential to beat them. Tactically, we will aim for our best individual and collective approach. We must believe and show our desire to win, respecting them as we did there, but now using Villa Park as our home and fortress.”
Predicted 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 to watch
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG — The former Napoli winger scored a fantastic goal in the first leg and has been a standout signing in January. His performances have been crucial for PSG`s Champions League campaign.
Storyline to watch
Emiliano Martinez vs PSG — Despite the 3-1 loss in Paris, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was a central figure due to his past interactions with French fans since the 2022 World Cup final. He was met with whistles throughout the first leg match.
Prediction
Despite the first leg result, Aston Villa has shown they can create opportunities and score against PSG. However, it might not be enough to overturn the deficit, as Villa needs to score three goals. Pick: Aston Villa 2, PSG 2.
