Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off a stunning 3-1 comeback victory over Aston Villa at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash, ending the English side’s seven-game winning run.
Facing his former club for the first time, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery set up defensively, hoping to frustrate the hosts early on. But PSG wasted no time testing Emiliano Martinez, with Vitinha and Ousmane Dembele both drawing saves from the Argentine keeper.
Villa, though short on attacking chances, took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute. John McGinn intercepted the ball in midfield and launched a quick counter.
Marcus Rashford picked out Youri Tielemans on the left, who squared it for Morgan Rogers to finish coolly.
Their joy was short-lived. Minutes later, PSG’s Desire Doue leveled the score with a sensational solo goal, cutting inside from the left and blasting an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
PSG’s dominance continued into the second half. Fabian Ruiz switched play to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who danced past Axel Disasi and fired in from a tight angle to make it 2-1.
The home side pushed for more, with Hakimi going close, but the third goal didn’t arrive until the dying moments.
Dembele threaded a perfect ball through to Nuno Mendes, who calmly beat both a defender and Martinez to seal the win.
Now holding a two-goal cushion, PSG head into the second leg as strong favourites to progress — and potentially claim both the Champions League and Coupe de France titles, having already secured the Ligue 1 crown.
