Aston Villa will play against PSG at home on Tuesday for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. In the first leg, PSG defeated Aston Villa 3-1 in Paris. To advance to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 1982 (when they won the trophy), Aston Villa needs to win this game by at least two goals. A two-goal victory would lead to extra time and possibly penalties. PSG, having already secured the French league title, is fully focused on the Champions League, especially after being knocked out by Borussia Dortmund in last season`s semifinals. Since becoming PSG`s coach in 2023, Luis Enrique has aimed to win the Champions League for the club for the first time, after losing the 2020 final to Bayern Munich. To reach this goal, PSG must first defeat Aston Villa and their former coach Unai Emery. Emery`s tactical skills were evident in the first leg, despite the loss. Here’s a preview of the match, including how to watch and more.
Match Details and Betting Odds
- Date: Tuesday, April 15
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Villa Park — Birmingham, England
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Aston Villa +230; Draw +260; PSG +110
First Leg Recap
In the first leg in Paris, PSG won 3-1. Aston Villa initially took the lead with a goal by Morgan Rogers from a counter-attack. However, PSG responded with two excellent goals from Desire Doue from outside the box and a solo effort by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia early in the second half. Nuno Mendes scored late in the game to secure a 3-1 victory for PSG, giving them a significant advantage for the second leg.
PSG`s Perspective
PSG coach Luis Enrique stated that he respects Aston Villa`s potential. He said, “Our goals are clear: to overcome the challenges Aston Villa presents and win the match. Only one team will reach the semifinals after tomorrow`s game, which makes this competition thrilling. We are not overconfident, just determined to handle Aston Villa`s threats. Playing in a historic stadium is always enjoyable and motivates our players.”
Aston Villa`s Perspective
Unai Emery discussed the difficulty of playing against PSG in the pre-match press conference. He said, “We need to execute our game plan effectively and win individual battles on the field. The players must perform at their best. Despite the first leg result, we showed we can compete with PSG. We aim to use Villa Park as our advantage and play with belief and respect for our opponents, while trying to win.”
Projected Starting Lineups
Aston Villa XI: Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans; John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers; Marcus Rashford.
PSG XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue.
Key Player to Watch
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG — Kvaratskhelia, PSG`s winger, scored a fantastic goal in the first leg and has been a standout signing since January. His performance will be crucial for PSG`s chances of advancing in the Champions League.
Intriguing Storyline
Emiliano Martinez vs PSG — Aston Villa`s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, faced significant attention in Paris due to his history with French fans after Argentina`s victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final. He was heavily booed by fans throughout the first leg match.
Match Prediction
Despite Aston Villa`s potential to score, it`s unlikely they will overcome the two-goal deficit from the first leg. Prediction: Aston Villa 2, PSG 2.
Champions League Quarterfinals Schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
| TUESDAY, APRIL 15 | TIME | HOW TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League Today pre-match | 1:30 p.m. | Paramount+; CBS Sports Golazo Network from 1:45 p.m. |
| The Golazo Show | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Aston Villa vs. PSG | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League Today post-match | 5 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ |
| The Champions Club | 5 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network, YouTube |
| Scoreline | 7 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 | TIME | HOW TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League Today pre-match | 2 p.m. | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| The Golazo Show | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Inter vs. Bayern Munich | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Real Madrid vs. Arsenal | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League Today post-match | 5 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ |
| The Champions Club | 5 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network, YouTube |
| Scoreline | 7 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
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