Aston Villa produced a spirited comeback against Paris Saint-German at Villa Park but are out of the Champions League following an incredible 5-4 aggregate defeat.
Facing a 3-1 deficit from the first leg, they slipped two behind on the night following goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes to seemingly end any hopes of a comeback but stunned PSG by pulling three of the four goals back, roared on by the Villa crowd.
Efforts by Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa had the French champions and competition favourites rocking but the final goal would not come. Marco Asensio had the clearest opportunity against his parent club but was denied one-against-one.
Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison believes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has to do better as PSG take an early lead in the Champions League
Clinton Morrison cannot believe what he is watching as Aston Villa score two goals in three minutes to make it 5-4 on aggregate against PSG
“We will be connecting with our supporters and transmitting the energy,” Emery had warned beforehand and he was not wrong. PSG were taken to places they could not have expected but it is they who progress to a semi-final against Arsenal or Real Madrid.
For Villa, thoughts now turn to domestic matters and a hectic schedule that sees them face Newcastle and Manchester City in the Premier League before an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. Plenty to be excited about, but this European adventure is over.
How the night unfolded for Villa
Villa did all they could to create a hostile atmosphere, pressing from the outset and roared on by the home support, but the assumption was that this second leg was likely to hinge on the first goal and it was PSG who claimed it on the break after 11 minutes.
Mendes sent Bradley Barcola away and Emiliano Martinez could only palm the cross into the path of the onrushing Hakimi. Before the half-hour mark, Villa were undone again on the break, Hakimi’s fellow full-back Mendes finishing off that slick move.
Villa’s night was threatening to unravel at that point, in danger of losing face as well as the tie, but they kept pushing and were rewarded when Tielemans’ shot deflected into the net off Willian Pacho. That got them in at the break still four down on aggregate.
It was two goals in quick succession that changed the complexion of the night, a deflected strike by McGinn followed by some magic from Marcus Rashford to set up Konsa. At that point, the previously assured PSG appeared to be feeling the pressure.
Villa created big chances in the game but Asensio’s was the one, at a time when the momentum was really with Emery’s side. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved with his feet and the substitutions by the home side seemed to disrupt the rhythm for a while.
Ian Maatsen did have a shot blocked in stoppage-time but PSG stumbled over the line. Villa supporters applauded their team off. Their dreams dashed but feeling nothing but pride. The comeback did not win the tie but it did win the leg and the love of this crowd.
Aston Villa’s night in stats
PSG have progressed from each of their last four quarter-final ties in the Champions League, reaching the final four for a fifth time overall and a fourth time in the last six seasons.
In what was their first Champions League campaign, Aston Villa have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage, winning eight of their 12 games. No side has ever won more matches in their debut campaign in the competition.
PSG failed to win a Champions League game despite leading by two goals for the first time since March 2001, having won 56 successive such matches prior to tonight.
Aston Villa have extended their unbeaten run at Villa Park to 18 games across all competitions, their longest run without defeat on home soil since a run of 20 games between April 1990 and February 1991.
Since making his Aston Villa debut in February, no Premier League player has provided more assists across all competitions than Marcus Rashford (5).
Youri Tielemans has had a hand in 13 goals for Aston Villa in all competitions this season (4 goals, 9 assists), his best tally in a single campaign since 2020-21 for Leicester (15 – 9 goals, 6 assists).
