Paris Saint-Germain is set to host Aston Villa this Wednesday in a highly anticipated Champions League quarterfinal first leg match. PSG enters this game on a high note, having recently secured their 13th French Ligue 1 title, achieving this victory with six games still remaining in the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, Aston Villa`s manager, Unai Emery, will be making a return to Paris, where he previously coached PSG from 2016 to 2018. The winner of this quarterfinal clash will advance to the semifinals to face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in matches scheduled for late April and early May.
PSG, the dominant force in Ligue 1, remain undefeated in the league, boasting an impressive record of 23 wins and 5 draws in 28 games. Their ambitions extend beyond domestic success as they are also contenders for the French Cup final against Reims. However, their primary focus now shifts to the Champions League, fueled by past disappointments, including a semifinal loss to Borussia Dortmund last season and a final defeat to Bayern Munich in 2019-20. For Aston Villa, this match marks their first-ever encounter with PSG in history, making it a unique fixture in this season`s quarterfinals.
PSG will be without a couple of players for this match. Lee Kang-In is sidelined due to injury, and Marquinhos will miss the Aston Villa game due to suspension. Here’s a closer look at the key details for the upcoming match:
Match Details: PSG vs. Aston Villa
- Date: Wednesday, April 9
- Location: Parc des Princes, Paris, France
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- Odds: PSG -260; Draw +380; Aston Villa +650
Previous Encounters
This is the first time PSG and Aston Villa will play against each other. Interestingly, PSG has already played five matches against English teams this season, with two of those being against Liverpool in the round of 16. After losing the first leg 1-0 at home to Liverpool, they managed to win the second leg at Anfield by the same score and ultimately progressed to the quarterfinals by winning 4-1 on penalties.
Journey to the Quarterfinals
Aston Villa has been a surprise contender in this Champions League campaign. They finished the league phase in eighth place with 16 points, directly qualifying for the round of 16 where they convincingly defeated Club Brugge with a 6-1 aggregate score. PSG had a more challenging league phase, finishing 15th with 13 points. They advanced through playoffs against Brest (10-0 on aggregate) and then overcame 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.
Player Spotlight
Ousmane Dembele, PSG: Following Kylian Mbappe`s departure, Dembele has stepped up as a key player for PSG this season. In 2025, he has scored an impressive 24 goals in 20 games for PSG, including 21 Ligue 1 goals this season. His overall tally for the 2024-25 season is already a career-best 29 goals across all competitions. In the Champions League, Dembele has contributed significantly with seven goals and one assist in 10 appearances.
Key Storyline
Will Emery Outshine His Former Team? Unai Emery, now leading Aston Villa, previously managed PSG from 2016 to 2018, winning a Ligue 1 title during his tenure. A victory against PSG in this quarterfinal would significantly enhance his reputation as a top European coach.
Match Prediction
PSG is considered the favorite to advance to the Champions League semifinals and potentially even win the entire tournament. However, they must first secure a win on Wednesday. Prediction: PSG 3, Aston Villa 1.
