PSG Advances To Semi-Finals Despite Aston Villa Loss

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has managed to scrape through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League despite a nail-biting defeat against Aston Villa. In the second leg of their quarter-final tie, held at Villa Park in Birmingham on April 16, 2025, PSG lost 3-2, but advanced on aggregate with a score of 5-4.

The match kicked off with PSG employing a 4-3-3 formation, featuring a front trio of Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Randal Kolo Muani. The midfield was anchored by Vitinha, Marco Ruiz, and Warren Zaire-Emery, while the defense comprised Nuno Mendes, Pereira, Marquinhos, and Achraf Hakimi, with Gianluigi Donnarumma donning the gloves. Notably, Lee Kang-in remained on the bench throughout the match.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, opted for a 4-2-3-1 setup, with Marcus Rashford leading the attack, supported by John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Morgan Rogers in the midfield. The defensive line was made up of Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, and Matty Cash, with Emiliano Martinez as the goalkeeper.

PSG struck first in the 11th minute when Hakimi capitalized on a deflected cross from Barcola that the Villa goalkeeper failed to clear. The early goal set the tone for a thrilling encounter, with PSG looking to consolidate their aggregate lead.

However, Aston Villa responded tenaciously. In the 24th minute, Rogers had a great chance but missed the target, shooting just wide. Villa's persistence paid off in the 34th minute when Tielemans leveled the match, scoring after his attempt deflected off a PSG defender and found its way into the net.

PSG regained their advantage in the 28th minute as Mendes found the net with a left-footed shot from Dembélé's assist, pushing the score to 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

As the second half commenced, Aston Villa came out with renewed vigor. Just five minutes in, McGinn leveled the score again with a stunning long-range effort that left Donnarumma with no chance. The home crowd erupted as Villa equalized the match at 2-2.

Villa continued to build momentum and took the lead in the 52nd minute. Rashford's cutback found Konsa, who slotted the ball home, making it 3-2 for Villa. Aston Villa’s confidence surged as they pushed for more goals, threatening PSG's defense repeatedly.

PSG made a tactical change in the 60th minute, substituting Barcola for Duae as they sought to regain control of the match. Villa also made substitutions, bringing on Marco Asensio and Aaron Ramsey to bolster their midfield.

Despite several attempts, PSG struggled to find the back of the net again. In the 75th minute, Dembélé's shot was saved by Martinez, who was in fine form, denying PSG any further scoring opportunities. The visitors also missed a crucial free-kick chance in the dying minutes of the game as Mendes' effort went astray.

The match concluded with Aston Villa celebrating their victory, but PSG was relieved to advance to the semi-finals thanks to their aggregate score. Lee Kang-in, who had just returned from injury, was left to watch from the sidelines yet again, unable to contribute on the pitch.

While PSG’s advancement to the semi-finals enhances their chances of clinching the coveted Champions League title, it left Kang-in feeling disappointed as he was unable to make an impact during this crucial phase of the tournament.

As the dust settles on this thrilling encounter, PSG will now prepare for the challenges ahead in the semi-finals, where they will aim to capitalize on their hard-fought progress.