Aston Villa try to awaken ghosts of Paris Saint-Germain’s previous UEFA Champions League campaigns when they attempt an improbable quarterfinal comeback at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side went ahead against the run of play in a pulsating encounter at the Parc des Princes last week when Morgan Rogers capped a wonderful counter-attack.
But Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia crowed virtuoso displays on the wings with fabulous goals to put Luis Enrique’s men in the ascendency. The body blow arrived in stoppage time when Nuno Mendes sealed a 3-1 win for PSG.
Emery knows all about PSG’s propensity to fall on their face when European progress seems assured. He was their head coach when a 4-0 first-leg win over Barcelona was overturned in a historic 6-1 defeat at Camp Nou in 2017.
Luis Enrique was in the Barca dugout that night and will need no reminders of the strange things that can happen in this competition when he heads to a venue where Villa are undefeated in their past 17 matches.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates, including confirmed starting lineups.
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Aston Villa vs. PSG lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Leon Bailey is Emery’s only injury absentee, meaning he has plenty of selection and tactical dilemmas beyond who will take penalties after Marco Asensio had two attempts from 12 yards saved by Aaron Ramsdale in the 3-0 win at Southampton.
Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score at St Mary’s having also been among the replacements in Paris. The England striker will sure start with the tie to chase.
Donyell Malen was also on target at the weekend but will not play against PSG as he was the odd-man-out among Villa’s January additions, with only three allowed to be added to the Champions League squad. Those spots were taken by Ascensio, Marcus Rashford and Axel Disasi.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Kamara, Tielemans — McGinn, Rogers, Rashford — Watkins
Injured: Bailey (doubt)
Suspended: None
Ineligible: Malen
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PSG are more or less at full strength wth skipper Marquinhos back from suspension. His fellow Brazilian Lucas Beraldo is most likely to may.
Luis Enrique had the luxury of a weekend without domestic action and is likely to trust the side that played so brilliantly in the first leg.
Doue and Kvaratskhelia’s sublime performances means the excellent Bradley Barcola will probably have to settle for a place on the bench once more.
PSG (4-3-3, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes — Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves — Doue, Demble, Kvaratskhelia
Injured: None
Suspended: None
PSG vs. Aston Villa live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
