Here’s our prediction and preview for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between Aston Villa and PSG. Can Unai Emery’s team recover from a two-goal deficit against one of Europe’s top clubs?
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Aston Villa vs PSG: Preview
Aston Villa will face an uphill battle to keep their Champions League hopes alive, needing at least two goals against a dominant Paris Saint-Germain to have any chance of progressing.
Unai Emery faces a tough task in reigniting belief within his Villa squad, especially after conceding a damaging third goal late in the first leg in Paris. Nuno Mendes’ brilliant injury-time strike has firmly tipped the balance in PSG’s favour, making them the clear favourites to advance.
As if the challenge wasn’t already daunting enough, Villa will also have to contend with a PSG side that, thanks to favorable scheduling back home, didn’t play over the weekend. This means they’ve had nearly a full week to rest, recover, and strategize for the second leg.
In contrast, Villa played away in the Premier League on Saturday, securing a comfortable win against already-relegated Southampton.
The low level of opposition gave Villa the chance to rest some key players, but Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans remained pivotal, seemingly unaffected by fatigue.
Both will be crucial to any potential comeback for the home side, and their ability to deliver such a turnaround cannot be overlooked.
Rogers has been directly involved in six goals for Villa in the Champions League this season, with four goals and two assists, including the opener in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. Only two English players under 23 have registered more goal involvements in a single edition of the competition: Jude Bellingham (9) and Bukayo Saka (8), both during the 2023-24 season.
Tielemans, on the other hand, leads all Villa players in the Champions League for completed passes (534), line-breaking passes (104), possession recoveries (45), and tackles (19).
Villa’s midfield quality creates a fascinating tactical battle, especially when considering the star-studded trio of João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha in PSG’s center.
Neves, still just 20 years old, is enjoying a standout Champions League campaign. He leads all midfielders in high-intensity pressures this season with 651, and his 42 tackles are the most by any midfielder in a single edition of the competition since Casemiro’s 45 for Real Madrid in 2017-18.
That relentless energy is felt throughout PSG’s squad, not just in midfield. Their attack has proven just as industrious as it is dynamic.
In previous seasons, the attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar were often seen coasting out of possession. However, the current forwards make sure to disrupt their opponents, denying them any time to settle.
Indeed, PSG has averaged 11.2 high turnovers per game in the Champions League this season, their highest in any edition on record. They’ve also registered 36 shot-ending high turnovers in 2024-25, surpassing their total from the previous three editions combined (28).
PSG may be a team full of stars, but they operate as a cohesive unit, with each player contributing significantly. This season, they have four different players who have been directly involved in five or more goals in the Champions League: Ousmane Dembélé (9), Achraf Hakimi (6), Bradley Barcola (6), and Désiré Doué (5). This marks the first time in a single edition of the competition that PSG has had this many players with such contributions.
However, PSG does have a history of letting commanding leads slip away, and they’ve seen it happen before. This marks the eighth time they’ve led by two or more goals heading into the second leg of a Champions League tie, and they’ve been eliminated three times from such a position. If they were to be knocked out again, it would set a competition record.
One of those famous collapses was La Remontada (the comeback), when PSG lost 6-5 on aggregate to Barcelona in 2016-17, despite securing a 4-0 first-leg victory. The two managers in that unforgettable tie? Unai Emery for PSG and Luis Enrique for Barcelona.
Aston Villa vs PSG: Head-to-Head
Aston Villa have suffered three consecutive losses against French teams, with defeats to Lille, Monaco, and PSG all coming within the past year.
On the other hand, PSG has won only four of their 17 away games against English clubs. However, they did secure a victory in their most recent outing, beating Liverpool in March, which ended a run of four straight defeats in such matches.
Aston Villa vs PSG: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Aston Villa – Team News
Aston Villa are almost at full strength for the second leg, with their only injury concern being Jamaican forward Leon Bailey. While Bailey is nearing a return to the squad, he won’t be in contention for a starting spot just yet.
With such depth at his disposal, Unai Emery made a few changes in Villa’s win against Southampton over the weekend. Interestingly, all three of his goal scorers—Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, and Brian Brobbey—came on as second-half substitutes.
Watkins was left out of the starting lineup for the first leg, but his recent performance has almost certainly earned him a spot in the starting XI for Tuesday’s crucial tie. Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, and Boubacar Kamara are also expected to reclaim their places in the team.
Aston Villa – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeper – Martinez
- Defenders – Cash, Torres, Konsa, Digne
- Midfielders – Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn
- Forwards – Watkins, Rogers, Rashford
PSG – Team News
PSG manager Luis Enrique will also have a full squad to choose from for the midweek clash, including captain Marquinhos, who returns from the suspension that kept him out of the first leg.
Lucas Beraldo is likely to be the one to make way for the returning skipper, but aside from that, it should be business as usual for the French champions. Ousmane Dembélé, PSG’s chief attacking threat, has been in sensational form, with 42 goal contributions in 41 games during the 2024-25 season, putting him firmly in Ballon d’Or contention.
In midfield, Vitinha was a standout in the first leg, completing an impressive 148 passes, the most by any PSG player in a Champions League match on record. It was also the second-highest number in a knockout game, only behind Xavi’s 161 passes for Barcelona against Chelsea in 2012.
PSG – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeper – Donnarumma
- Defenders – Hakimi, Beraldo, Pacho, Mendes
- Midfielders – Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz
- Forwards – Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue
Aston Villa vs PSG: Prediction
The atmosphere at Villa Park on Tuesday night will be electric, offering PSG a glimpse of the thrilling intensity that defines English Champions League nights. Aston Villa will also be at their attacking best as they push for a comeback.
Yet, in their pursuit of a turnaround, Emery’s side may inadvertently play into PSG’s hands. Enrique’s rapid-fire attack is capable of punishing any mistakes, setting up an exciting semi-final against either Arsenal or Real Madrid.
Had Villa only lost 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, their chances of a recovery on home turf would have seemed more realistic. However, this now feels like a daunting challenge, and PSG’s performance at Anfield demonstrated that they are just as lethal away from home as they are at the Parc.
Villa will need to take risks, leaving space that PSG’s attack will undoubtedly exploit.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 PSG (aggregate 5-2 for PSG)
When and Where to Watch Aston Villa vs PSG Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-finals second leg between Aston Villa and PSG will take place at the Villa Park in Birmingham, England. The match is set for April 16 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
