PSG Survive Aston Villa Scare to Reach Champions League Semis
Paris Saint-Germain managed to hold off a spirited second-half fightback from Aston Villa to progress to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory, despite a 3-2 loss in the second leg on Tuesday.
The French champions took control early on with goals from full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, extending their lead to 3-1 from the first leg. However, Youri Tielemans pulled one back for Villa before halftime, and quick goals from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa turned the tie on its head in the second half.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero for PSG with crucial saves to deny Villa and prevent a repeat of their infamous collapse against Barcelona in 2017 under Unai Emery’s management.
Villa, led by Emery, had the home crowd on their feet with a spirited fightback, but ultimately fell short despite their efforts. The mix-up with the Europa League anthem playing instead of the Champions League anthem added a touch of comedy to the intense encounter.
PSG’s decision to start Bradley Barcola paid off as he assisted Hakimi’s opener, while Mendes capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the second. Villa fought back bravely with goals from Tielemans, McGinn, and Konsa, but couldn’t find the decisive goal to force extra time.
Emery’s bold move to start Marcus Rashford over Ollie Watkins raised eyebrows, but the English forward had his moments, including a clever assist for Konsa’s goal. However, PSG weathered the storm and regained control late in the game to secure their spot in the next round.
Despite the scare, PSG now set their sights on the semi-finals, where they will be looking to continue their quest for European glory. With the Ligue 1 title already secured, all eyes are on the Champions League final in Munich on May 31 as PSG aim to lift the trophy for the first time.
