Aston Villa vs PSG LIVE: Result and response as hosts fall simply brief in Champions League thriller
A remarkable, riotous comeback from Aston Villa fell just short as Paris Saint-Germain clung on to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
The French capital club looked to be cruising into the last four when they struck twice in the opening half-hour, through full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, to double their advantage in the tie after securing a 3-1 win in Paris last week.
But the hosts came roaring back at a raucous Villa Park. Youri Tielemans’s deflected effort before half time gave them hope before the tie appeared to turn in five second-half minutes as John McGinn and Ezri Konsa struck. It left Villa chasing an equaliser to take the encounter to extra time, and they had their chances – but Unai Emery’s side could not find a fourth, with PSG grateful to Gianluigi Donnarumma for a sprinkling of spectacular saves. They face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Re-live all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Aston Villa’s Champions League dream dies as riotous comeback falls just short
Au revoir, Aston Villa. They will not have to clear space in the upper tier of Villa Park for the commentary of another European Cup-winning goal. Or not just yet, anyway.
But if there was a way to exit the Champions League, this was it. Valiant and magnificent, Villa beat the potential champions of Europe on the night.
Read Richard Jolly’s full report from Villa Park:
FULL-TIME! Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
Fantastic night, fantastic effort from Villa. 2-0 down on the night, 5-1 down on aggregate, the fear was they would get thrashed.
Instead they gave PSG a scare. But for the brilliance of Donnarumma, they could have taken this to extra time. They go out, but with heads held high.
FULL-TIME! Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
After half an hour, there was a feeling that Villa were about to be dumped out of the Champions League at a canter.
Then came what was so nearly one of the all-time comebacks.
While they won’t be in the last four, Unai Emery’s side proved they belonged with Europe’s heaviest hitters.
No shame to this Champions League exit – and as the fans continue to applaud and hail their plays, that fact is clear to see inside Villa Park.
FULL-TIME! Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
PSG hold off a remarkable Aston Villa comeback to lose on the night but come out on top in the tie.
John McGinn and Ezri Konsa flipped the second leg on its head after the restart, closing the deficit from three to one – but they couldn’t find that vital goal to bring parity.
A sublime effort from the Villains, nonetheless.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
90+3 mins: OFF THE LINE! Maatsen meets it on the volley but Pacho is there to get a vital block in near the goal-line.
That might be it.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
90+2 mins: Donnarumma’s hoof goes all the way out for a goal kick.
One last Martinez hoof.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
90+1 mins: Martinez launches one up the field but it doesn’t fall kindly to a claret and blue shirt.
Hakimi is then impeded on the counter and PSG have the chance to slow things down again.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)
90 mins: Villa finally have possession.
THREE minutes of added time to save their Champions League skin.
