Aston Villa is set to host PSG this Tuesday for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash. In the first leg, PSG, under the guidance of Luis Enrique, secured a 3-1 victory at Parc des Princes. Aston Villa faces a challenge, needing to score at least two goals to advance to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since their 1982 triumph against Bayern Munich.
PSG, having already clinched the Ligue 1 title, can fully concentrate on their European campaign. Last season saw them exit in the semifinals against Borussia Dortmund. Luis Enrique`s primary objective since joining PSG in 2023 has been to win the Champions League title, a feat they narrowly missed in 2020 when they lost to Bayern Munich in the final. To reach this goal, PSG must overcome Aston Villa, managed by their former coach Unai Emery. Emery`s tactical acumen was evident in the first leg, despite the final score.
Match Details: Aston Villa vs PSG
- Date: Tuesday, April 15
- Location: Villa Park — Birmingham, England
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Aston Villa +230; Draw +260; PSG +110
First Leg Recap
In the first leg in Paris, PSG defeated Aston Villa 3-1. Despite Aston Villa taking an early lead through Morgan Rogers, PSG responded with two impressive goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Nuno Mendes added a late goal, giving PSG a comfortable lead heading into the second leg.
PSG`s Perspective
Luis Enrique has stated that he is not underestimating Aston Villa`s potential. He emphasized the team`s focus on solving the challenges posed by Aston Villa and securing a victory to advance to the semifinals. He acknowledged the historical significance of Villa Park and sees it as a source of motivation rather than a problem for his players.
Aston Villa`s Perspective
Unai Emery acknowledged the difficulty of facing PSG in the second leg. He stressed the importance of a well-executed game plan and individual player performances. While recognizing PSG`s advantage after the first leg, Emery believes Aston Villa demonstrated their competitiveness and the possibility of defeating them. He aims to leverage Villa Park as a fortress and instil belief in his team.
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
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG`s winger, is highlighted as a key player after his standout performance in the first leg, including a remarkable goal. His impact since joining in January is considered crucial to PSG`s Champions League aspirations.
Key Storyline: Emiliano Martinez vs PSG
The spotlight is on Aston Villa`s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, due to his past rivalry with French fans stemming from the 2022 World Cup final. He faced whistles from fans throughout the first leg match in Paris.
Match Prediction
Despite Aston Villa`s potential to score, overcoming the 3-1 deficit from the first leg is predicted to be too challenging. The predicted score is Aston Villa 2, PSG 2.
