After edging Liverpool 2-1 last Tuesday night at Anfield, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) shift focus to another Premier League opponent, Aston Villa, with a spot in the semifinals on the line. PSG fought past Liverpool in a tense battle, ultimately needing a penalty shootout to advance.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa had a much smoother path, cruising past Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The English side won the first leg 3-1 last Wednesday and sealed the tie with a dominant 3-0 victory in extra time.
Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, scored twice, while Ian Maatsen added another to cap off the win.
Pundit explains what makes PSG a dangerous side. Following their performance over 180 minutes against Liverpool, Telefoot’s Bixente Lizarazu believes PSG are a serious threat to winning the Champions League this season and that Luis Enrique is the driving force why the capital club can win this tournament.
“They held their own against this Liverpool team at Anfield, and that’s not easy,” Lizarazu said. “They did it very well. Psychologically, the second half was extremely difficult, and they really surprised me.”
He continues, “They showed that they are capable, even without oxygen, of standing up to one of the best European teams at the moment. And that’s something we hadn’t seen before because they needed an opponent and a competition at this level.”
“It was quite exceptional. On a technical level, they are generally dominant all the time, so that wasn’t much of a surprise,” he noted. “What’s different is that they are really unleashing their attack in fast transitions. That’s the evolution of Luis Enrique’s game. It’s no longer just about possession. They are extremely dangerous in quick attacks, and that’s where they were very strong.”
“Overall, they dominated three out of four halves, including extra time. Emotionally, they were stronger, even during the penalty shootout. This victory was completely deserved. At this level, PSG can be very dangerous—there’s no doubt about it.”
Asensio is set to face the coach who reduced his playing time this season, a key factor in his decision to join Villa Park during the winter transfer window.
At the same time, Unai Emery will return to Paris to take on the club he led from 2016 to 2018, winning a league title, two Coupe de France trophies, two Coupe de la Ligue titles, and two Trophée des Champions.
Meanwhile, in another corner of European football, Lamine Yamal has declared Barcelona as the new favorites to win the Champions League after Liverpool’s elimination by PSG in the round of 16. According to Yamal, Barça finished second behind Liverpool in the revamped league phase of the competition before beating Benfica to set up a quarterfinal clash with Borussia Dortmund.
“We shouldn't fear anyone,” Barça winger Yamal told Diario Sport when asked about a possible showdown with 15-time winners Madrid. “I said that Liverpool were the favourites because they finished first in the league phase and then came us. I don't fear any team. We are the side that does the most damage to Madrid, and vice versa.”
Barcelona's confidence has been bolstered by an 18-game unbeaten streak in 2025. This run has included improbable late comebacks against teams like Benfica and Atletico Madrid.
Hansi Flick's side came from 4-2 down to beat Benfica 5-4 in January and then scored four times in the final 20 minutes to recover from a two-goal deficit to beat Atlético 4-2 in LaLiga on Sunday.
“The feeling I have is that I am part of a winning team,” Yamal added. “Last year against Atletico, a game like Sunday, we don't turn that around.”
Atletico’s recent match saw Barça back on top of LaLiga, level on points with Madrid, with a game in hand. They are also still in the Copa del Rey, where their semifinal against Atlético is delicately poised at 4-4 after the first leg.
Forward Ferran Torres, who scored twice off the bench against Atlético Madrid, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We're dreamers and we think we're capable [of a treble]. We're still alive in all three competitions, and until we either win it or are knocked out, we're going to believe it's possible.”
Torres added, “I think it was a statement win which said that however a game is going, we have enough character to turn it around.”
