Champions League semi-finals are within reach for Paris Saint-Germain after they narrowly escaped a stunning comeback from Aston Villa. Despite a 3-2 defeat at Villa Park, PSG advanced 5-4 on aggregate and secured their spot in the last four of the competition.
Strong Start from PSG
PSG entered the second leg with a 3-1 advantage from the first match in Paris. They extended that lead early when Achraf Hakimi capitalized on a fumbled cross by Emiliano Martinez in the 11th minute. Just 16 minutes later, Nuno Mendes doubled the lead with a cool finish, making it 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate.
Luis Enrique’s decision to start Bradley Barcola over Desire Doue paid off instantly, as Barcola played a key role in the opening goal. PSG’s pace and precision in attack left Villa reeling in the first half.
Villa Fights Back
Aston Villa, however, refused to back down. Youri Tielemans pulled one back before halftime with a deflected strike that gave the home crowd hope. The second half began with a roar as Villa scored twice in just two minutes. John McGinn’s deflected effort made it 2-2 on the night, and Ezri Konsa’s composed finish brought the aggregate score to 5-4.
Villa Park erupted, with Prince William and his son George visibly animated in the stands. The atmosphere matched the intensity on the field, as the hosts pushed for an equalizer that would have forced extra time.
Donnarumma to the Rescue
Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as PSG’s hero. The Italian goalkeeper pulled off several critical saves to keep his side in the competition. He denied Rashford, Tielemans, and even Marco Asensio — currently on loan at Villa from PSG — in crucial moments.
PSG’s defense struggled under the relentless pressure. A last-ditch block by Willian Pacho on Ian Maatsen in stoppage time sealed their progression and ended Villa’s spirited fightback.
Read: Lahore Qalandars Dominate Karachi Kings with Crushing 65-Run Victory
Lessons from the Battle
Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s manager, expressed pride in his team’s performance. “We got them suffering like we did,” he said. “This is the level we want to build towards.”
Emery, who once managed PSG, nearly pulled off another historic comeback — reminiscent of his 2017 experience when Luis Enrique’s Barcelona famously overturned a 4-0 deficit against his PSG side.
This time, Enrique was in charge of PSG and acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster. “These matches help us grow,” he said. “Over two legs, we deserved to win.”
Road Ahead
PSG now await the winner of the Arsenal vs Real Madrid tie. With Arsenal holding a 3-0 lead from the first leg, they are the likely semi-final opponents. On the other side of the draw, Barcelona will face either Bayern Munich or Inter Milan.
With the Ligue 1 title nearly wrapped up, PSG can now focus on their long-standing dream of winning Europe’s most coveted club prize. This thrilling escape keeps that dream alive — and perhaps closer than ever before.
Follow us on Google News, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,Whats App, and TikTok for latest updates