Aston Villa vs PSG LIVE: Team information and line-ups for essential Champions League quarter-final
Aston Villa are hoping to extend their Champions League campaign with a comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final second leg at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side trail 3-1 on aggregate after the first leg in Paris where Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for the midlands club before goals from Desire Doue, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes gave the French champions the advantage.
Villa have performed well at home in Europe this year but their task is a colossal one against a team that has won 17 of their previous 18 matches across all competitions. Their only defeat in that run was a 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie which they went on to win.
A 3-0 Premier League win over Southampton in between ties gives Villa some added confidence with Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen and John McGinn are proving their worth in front of goal ahead of what will be a crucial test tonight.
Follow all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Unai Emery issues rallying cry for Aston Villa to ‘write history’ after past comeback heartbreak
Unai Emery was famously on the wrong side of one of the famous European comebacks – when Barcelona came from 4-0 down to beat his PSG side 6-1 in 2016/17.
Now up against the Parisiens, Emery hopes his new side can “write history” at Villa Park by slaying his former side.
“I have experiences of coming back, positively and negatively,” Emery said.
“But now it’s something different. We want to write the history with Aston Villa. Last year in the Conference League and this year in the Champions League and hopefully for a long time in Europe.”
PSG will not be intimidated by hostile atmosphere at Aston Villa, says Luis Enrique
“For us, it is always a pleasure to play and compete in a stadium like this, with so much history,” Enrique said.
“We love playing football. Our teams and supporters are accustomed to this. It is going to be a big match, there is certainly no problem with the atmosphere. It is a motivation, more than anything.
“The tie isn’t over, it is still open. It is going to be difficult. We are prepared to suffer if necessary to get our aim and win this match.”
PSG line-up
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Barcola, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia.
Aston Villa line-up
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Onana, Rogers; Watkins.
Why is Prince William an Aston Villa fan?
There was a royal presence in the crowd at the Parc des Princes last week.
Prince William, a longstanding Aston Villa fan, took Prince George to the Paris watch his team in their Champions League first leg against PSG.
The Prince of Wales told TNT Sports pundits Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand that bringing Prince George to the clash was a “big deal” and that he was “nervous” and “pretty terrified” ahead of kick off.
William was pictured celebrating and hugging George, who was wearing an Aston Villa scarf, following Morgan Rogers’ opening goal which gave the Birmingham side a first-half lead.
How things went down in Paris
Aston Villa will need to overturn a two-goal deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals after being beaten 3-1 by PSG in the first leg of their tie.
Villa took the lead against the run of play at the Parc des Princes. With PSG on top, John McGinn took control of the ball and kicked off a counter-attack. Morgan Rogers finished off the move with a tap in at the back post and the good vibes ended there for Unai Emery’s men.
Desire Doue was the instigator of PSG’s comeback. He cut in from the left and fizzed a shot into the far top corner before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sent the hosts ahead in the second half with an equally superb strike.
Villa seemed content to take a loss back to the Midlands but Nuno Mendes made the task incredibly difficult in stoppage time with a dainty and professional finish to sit down Emi Martinez and give the French champions a third goal.
Aston Villa are underdogs against PSG but their optimism is not misguided
The way Unai Emery has tried to explain it, Nuno Mendes’s injury-time goal at the Parc des Princes didn’t alter much.
The temptation was to think it made Aston Villa’s task twice as hard, from the tough to the borderline impossible.
Richard Jolly previews tonight’s crucial second leg at Villa Park:
Elsewhere in the Champions League tonight
Aston Villa face a difficult task to overcome a two-goal deficit against PSG – but their challenge won’t feel nearly as daunting as the one confronting Dortmund tonight.
Last year’s Champions League finalists play host to Barcelona at the Westfalenstadion, with the Blaugrana holding a 4-0 advantage from the first leg.
If you’re looking for jeopardy, I’d stay tuned to the happenings in the West Midlands.
Odds for the clash
Aston Villa to win – 2/1
Draw – 23/10
PSG to win – 1/1
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