Aston Villa will hope to stage an unlikely comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Aston Villa return to the raucous surrounds of Villa Park on Tuesday night knowing they must channel the spirit of past European glories to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit against PSG in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Having witnessed his side take the lead at the Parc des Princes, Prince William, watching proudly alongside Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand, would have dared to dream. Morgan Rogers’s back-post strike briefly stunned the Parisiens and lit the spark for a potential upset. But PSG’s youthful brilliance soon restored order against Aston Villa.
Stunning efforts from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, followed by Nuno Mendes’s cruel stoppage-time blow, left Unai Emery’s men with a mountain to climb. Make no mistake, the climb is steep; Aston Villa have never progressed from a European knockout tie after losing the first leg by two or more goals. Yet, belief remains.
Emery’s side arrive bolstered by a 3-0 weekend win over Southampton, in which Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, and Donyell Malen all struck late, flipping a laboured display into a confident clean-sheet triumph.
More crucially, Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 17 home matches in all competitions, including four straight victories and a remarkable record under Emery in Europe, 11 wins from his last 13 home games on the continental stage. The Lions have scored at least two goals in seven of their last eight games at Villa Park.
Against a PSG side that has occasionally shown signs of vulnerability on English soil, the belief in a raucous West Midlands cauldron will be palpable. For Luis Enrique’s PSG, this is a chance to exorcise ghosts past.
Eight years have passed since the infamous ‘Remontada; at the hands of Barcelona — a night that still casts a shadow over the club’s European ambitions. That said, the current iteration of the French champions feels different. Gone are the ageing Galacticos, replaced by a youth-infused core revitalised under Luis Campos and Luis Enrique, who have brought balance to a side once overburdened with ego.
PSG arrive in Birmingham to take on Aston Villa well-rested, having wrapped up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare, and are chasing an unbeaten league campaign. Their 16-match away winning streak — which includes Champions League triumphs and a dramatic penalty shootout win over Liverpool — cements their status as genuine contenders.
Yet there is precedent for collapse. On three of the last seven occasions PSG have won a Champions League first leg by two or more goals, they have failed to progress. No club in the competition’s history has ever done so four times. So, while PSG are favourites to move on, history and Unai Emery could have a funny way of defying the odds. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
Heading into the decisive second leg against PSG, Aston Villa are virtually at full strength, with manager Unai Emery enjoying the luxury of a deep and healthy squad. The only notable absentee remains Leon Bailey, who is still recovering from injury. The Jamaican winger is nearing a return to full fitness but is not expected to be involved on Tuesday night, let alone start.
Sensing the opportunity to script one of Villa’s greatest European nights in the modern era, Emery is set to bring back several first-choice players who were rested over the weekend. Key names such as Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, and Boubacar Kamara, all left out of the starting lineup in the 3-0 win over Southampton, are poised to return to the XI.
Ollie Watkins, who did not start the first leg in Paris but came off the bench to score at the weekend, is all but guaranteed to lead the line in what is now a must-win scenario. Aston Villa are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Emiliano Martinez retaining his place in goal. The defensive unit should feature Matty Cash at right-back, Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres in central defence, and Lucas Digne returning to his natural left-back role.
In midfield, Boubacar Kamara will offer defensive steel alongside Youri Tielemans, allowing Aston Villa to regain control of possession and dictate tempo in the middle of the park. Ahead of them, the creative trio will likely consist of Morgan Rogers on the right, John McGinn in the central playmaker’s role, and Marcus Rashford cutting in from the left flank.
At centre-forward, Ollie Watkins is the focal point. With his pace, movement, and finishing ability, he will look to stretch the PSG backline and exploit any lapses in concentration. Watkins, supported by a resurgent attacking midfield, is Villa’s best hope of unlocking a Parisien defence that has at times shown vulnerability in transition.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique will travel to Birmingham with the rare luxury of a fully fit and suspension-free squad at his disposal. Most notably, club captain Marquinhos returns from the suspension that kept him out of the first leg in Paris. His reinstatement in the heart of defence is expected to come at the expense of Lucas Beraldo, who filled in admirably but will likely return to the bench for this crucial return fixture.
Beyond that change, Enrique is unlikely to tinker with a side that executed the first leg plan with efficiency and composure. Ousmane Dembele, in particular, remains the man of the moment, his extraordinary run of form now includes 42 goal contributions from 41 appearances across all competitions this season. The Frenchman is not only PSG’s sharpest attacking weapon, but his all-around performances have catapulted him into early Ballon d’Or contention.
In midfield, Vitinha produced a record-setting display in the first leg, completing 148 passes — the most ever recorded by a PSG player in a Champions League match, and second only to Xavi’s 161 in a Champions League knockout game. His rhythm and control will be key again in a potentially hostile Villa Park atmosphere.
Tactically, PSG will set up in a 4-3-3 formation against Aston Villa. Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal, shielded by a back four featuring Achraf Hakimi at right-back, Marquinhos and William Pacho in central defence, and Nuno Mendes continuing to offer both defensive cover and forward threat on the left flank.
In midfield, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Joao Neves are expected to form a well-balanced trio. Vitinha will operate as the deep-lying playmaker, with Ruiz providing link-up between phases and Neves offering industry and ball-winning capabilities.
Up front, Desire Doue, who scored a stunning goal in the first leg, will operate off the right, with Ousmane Dembele likely floating centrally or from the opposite flank to exploit half-spaces with his pace and vision. On the left, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia brings a combination of flair and finishing that makes him a nightmare for any defence.
PSG will aim to manage the tempo early, use their midfield control to silence the crowd, and let their dynamic front line pick off any openings that arise. With a two-goal cushion, Enrique’s men don’t need to chase the gam, but they have more than enough firepower to end it.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Key Stats
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Aston Villa have lost three of their four European games against French sides under Unai Emery, including a 1-3 defeat to PSG in the first leg. However, their only win came at Villa Park — a 2-1 victory over Lille in April 2024.
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PSG have previously blown a two-goal first-leg lead in the Champions League knockout rounds three times. Should they fail to progress, they will hold the unwanted record of being eliminated more often (4 times) than any other team after winning the first leg by 2+ goals.
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Villa’s first-leg defeat was only the third time they have lost a European knockout first leg by 2+ goals, and on the two prior occasions (against Royal Antwerp in 1975-76 and Olympiakos in 2023-24), they failed to overturn the deficit.
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PSG have won just four of their 17 away games against English opposition in European competition (D4 L9), although they did beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in March, ending a run of four straight losses in England.
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Since the start of 2022-23, Unai Emery has lost only one of his 13 home games in major European competition as Villa manager (W11 D1 L1). That lone defeat came against Olympiakos (2-4) in last season’s UEFA Conference League.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
On a night where control, composure, and a spark of magic may decide the fate of a Champions League semi-final berth, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the wildcard that could break Aston Villa’s resolve, or ignite their fears.
The Georgian winger was instrumental in the first leg, scoring a sensational goal that tilted the momentum in Paris Saint-Germain’s favour. With his trademark blend of unpredictability, explosive acceleration, and close control, Kvaratskhelia thrived in transition and proved to be a constant menace down the left flank. He carved out space with ease, manipulated defenders with feints, and showcased a level of end-product that makes him one of the most feared wide men in Europe.
This season, Kvaratskhelia has taken his game to new heights, consistently stepping up on the biggest stages. Against an Aston Villa side that must push forward and leave gaps in behind, his pace and 1v1 prowess will be even more lethal.
With Aston Villa’s full-backs expected to push high in search of goals, Kvaratskhelia’s counter-attacking threat could be decisive. If PSG are to avoid another infamous European collapse, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will need to be at his devastating best. And based on form and confidence, all signs suggest he’s ready to rise to the occasion once more.
Prediction
Aston Villa 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG advance 4-3 on aggregate)
Aston Villa will come out swinging under the lights at Villa Park, spurred on by a raucous crowd and Unai Emery’s remarkable home record in Europe. Expect early intensity, quick transitions, and the likes of Ollie Watkins and John McGinn driving the hosts forward. Villa’s recent form at home, unbeaten in 17 and having scored 2+ goals in seven of their last eight at Villa Park, cannot be ignored.
However, PSG’s quality on the break, anchored by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Vitinha, may prove just enough to withstand the storm and hit back when it matters. Despite Villa likely winning the night, PSG’s first-leg cushion and ruthlessness in transition should see them edge through to the semi-finals by the narrowest of margins.
