Aston Villa just about fall short of historic ‘remontada’ despite second-leg fightback against Paris Saint-Germain | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 5-4 triumph on aggregate despite losing 3-2 to Aston Villa on Tuesday.

The French champions recorded a 3-1 first-leg win, putting them in cruise control against Unai Emery’s side, who opened the scoring in Paris through Morgan Rogers.

With a two-goal deficit to make up, Villa expectedly started the game with real intent. However, PSG took the lead after 10 minutes with help from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

He parried Bradley Barcola’s cross straight to Achraf Hakimi, who finished from point-blank range.

Martinez’s error was largely due to a mix-up with Pau Torres, and the defender nearly made amends at the other end, drawing a fine save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Donnarumma was left scrambling shortly afterwards when Rogers’ effort went just wide of his left-hand post.

PSG ceded possession to Villa and opted to play on the counter. They showed their devastating nature on the break with a second goal on the night and a fifth in the tie overall.

Dembele and Mendes combined once again to good effect, with the left-back sending a low curling effort beyond Martinez.

Luis Enrique’s men were threatening to run away with the game at this point, but Villa refused to go down without a whimper and grabbed a much-needed goal 10 minutes before half-time.

Youri Tielemans was rewarded for his industry and interplay with John McGinn as his effort took a significant deflection off Willian Pacho into the PSG net.

Fabian Ruiz drew a comfortable stop out of Martinez for the final moment of attacking significance of the first half.

A defensive mix-up in the early exchanges of the second half afforded Marcus Rashford a huge chance, but Donnarumma denied him.

Villa were rewarded for their fine start to the second period as McGinn sprinted almost the full length of the pitch before unleashing a stunning effort into the top corner.

Rashford called Donnarumma into action moments later and showed great feet from the resulting corner to skip past a couple of challenges into the penalty area.

He found Ezri Konsa to make it 3-2 on the night and just one goal behind on aggregate.

Konsa’s goal raised the spirit at Villa Park, and Tielemans nearly sent the stadium into a frenzy with an equaliser, only for his close-range header to be palmed away by Donnarumma.

Emery sent on Marco Asensio with Villa pushing for a leveller, and he had a glorious opportunity to make an instant impact but was unable to get the better of the PSG goalie.

Martinez needed to be at his best to keep out Dembele and Hakimi five minutes apart, with PSG pushing for a goal that would put the final nail in Villa’s coffin.

Doue had perhaps PSG’s best chance of sealing the game in the penultimate minute when he was played through on goal before Martinez got in his way.

Ian Maatsen was denied by a last-ditch block from Pacho in what proved to be Villa’s final attacking flurry.

Despite putting up a valiant effort, Villa just about fell short in their ‘remontada’ attempt as PSG progressed to the Champions League last four for a second straight season.

Les Parisiens will play either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-final for a place in the final at the Allianz Arena.