Aston Villa vs PSG – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·15 April 2025

Aston Villa vs PSG – Match preview and team news

Aston Villa need to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final when they host PSG tonight.

Luis Enrique’s side came from a goal behind to beat the Villans 3-1 in Paris last week.

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PSG captain Marquinhos was unavailable last Wednesday but is back at his manager’s disposal tonight. The 30-year-old defender served a one match suspension for accumulating too many yellow cards in this year’s competition.

The French outfit weren’t in action on the weekend and have no injury concerns to contend with.

Villa returned to winning ways on the weekend courtesy of a 3-0 victory over relegated Southampton. Almost the entire squad has a clean bill of health, with the only potential absentee being Leon Bailey.

Ross Barkley was fit enough to be an unused substitute against PSG last week, although there wasn’t a place in the squad for the midfielder on the weekend.

After scoring against Southampton, Donyell Malen has now netted in three successive matches. However, the former Dortmund forward is ineligible tonight after being excluded from the European squad alongside fellow January signing Andres Garcia.

PSG loanee Marco Asensio saw two penalties saved by Aaron Ramsdale on Saturday, which could result in him being dropped this evening.

Aston Villa vs PSG – Match Preview and team news

Form

Aston Villa: WWWLW

Another win at the weekend means a solitary point separates Villa from Champions League qualification for a second successive year.

Second-half substitute Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock against Saints before Donyell Malen and John McGinn put the game beyond doubt.

It was Villa’s fourth successive victory in the Premier League but only their sixth clean sheet of the campaign. Exactly half of those shutouts have been recorded in recent weeks, with the return of Pau Torres contributing to the defensive solidity.

Unai Emery will be demanding that resistance to be emulated at Villa Park tonight, complemented with a relentless offensive attitude.

Read – Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Paris Saint-Germain

PSG: WWWWW

The Ligue 1 champions haven’t played since the first leg in the French capital one week ago. They are unbeaten in the league with just six games left to play.

If they manage to retain their invincibility throughout the remainder of the campaign, they will become the first team in French top-flight history to go an entire season undefeated.

However, ever since PSG’s transformative takeover in 2011, the primary objective has always been to lift the Champions League title.

Avoiding a defeat today would book a semi-final date with either Real Madrid or Arsenal and take them one step closer to glory.

Read – PSG predicted XI and team news ahead of Aston Villa clash

Last Meeting: PSG 3-1 Aston Villa, Champions League, 9th April 2025

Ruthless finishing from PSG sees them take a two-goal lead into the second leg with Aston Villa. The hosts dominated possession in the early stages, but it was Villa who managed to strike the first blow.

Incisive passing from Unai Emery’s players resulted in Youri Tielemans advancing down the right-flank. The Belgian midfielder fired a dangerous low cross to the back post where Morgan Rogers was perfectly placed to tap in the opener.

A corner of the Parc des Princes erupted with glee and even Prince William couldn’t contain his emotions. But their delight was short-lived, as the scores were levelled five minutes later.

Seconds after Emiliano Martinez had clawed the ball away on his goal-line, mesmerising prospect Desire Doue bypassed the Villa goal scorer before sumptuously curling an effort that kissed the crossbar on its way in.

The equaliser changed the complexion of the contest and almost immediately after the restart PSG produced another stunner. January acquisition Khvicha Kvaratskhelia breezed past Axel Disasi and lashed a rasping strike that also clipped the woodwork and flew past Martinez.

Luis Enrique’s men pushed for a third and the Argentina goalkeeper had to get down low to deny Achraf Hakimi. The Moroccan full-back did eventually beat the World Cup winner, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

With full-time looming, Nuno Mendes displayed impeccable composure to give his team a two-goal cushion. Ousmane Dembele’s assist was weighted to perfection and Mendes’ dummied shot duped both Ezri Konsa and Martinez.

That created the space for the Portuguese international to find the back of the net with his weak foot and make Villa’s job twice as hard in the second leg.

Read – Why Marco Asensio can play against parent club PSG tonight

What time is kick-off?

The match will kick off at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, 15th April 2025 at Villa Park, Birmingham.

Who is the referee?

Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez will be the match official. Raul Cabanero and Inigo Prieto will assist him while Alejandro Muniz Ruiz will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Carlos del Cerro Grande and he will be assisted by Cesar Soto Grado.