Aston Villa vs PSG LIVE: Result and reaction as hosts fall just short in Champions League thriller | OneFootball

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'We can win the second leg' - Unai Emery backs his side to upset PSG

A remarkable, riotous comeback from Aston Villa fell just short as Paris Saint-Germain clung on to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.

The French capital club looked to be cruising into the last four when they struck twice in the opening half-hour, through full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, to double their advantage in the tie after securing a 3-1 win in Paris last week.

But the hosts came roaring back at a raucous Villa Park. Youri Tielemans’s deflected effort before half time gave them hope before the tie appeared to turn in five second-half minutes as John McGinn and Ezri Konsa struck. It left Villa chasing an equaliser to take the encounter to extra time, and they had their chances - but Unai Emery’s side could not find a fourth, with PSG grateful to Gianluigi Donnarumma for a sprinkling of spectacular saves. They face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

Aston Villa vs PSG LIVE

WATCH: Maatsen nearly snatches an equaliser at the death

So, so close to one of the greatest goals in Aston Villa history

Will Castle16 April 2025 00:00

Marquinhos: 'We can go all the way and win it'

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game,” Marquinhos told Amazon Prime. “We had belief, we kept our intensity and we believed until the end we were going to go through.

"It is such a difficult competition but we are getting better and better and we are proving we are good team. There is belief that we can go all the way and win it this year.”

(Getty Images)

Will Castle15 April 2025 23:45

Donnarumma comes up trumps for PSG once again

Gianluigi Donnarumma was once again PSG’s Champions League hero tonight.

After being stunned by three near-unstoppable goals - two of which were in part due to crucial deflections off his own teammates - Donnarumma kept PSG’s now-slender advantage in tact for the remaining half an hour.

Two massive saves to deny Marcos Rashford and Youri Tielemans is the minutes after Villa went ahead on the night ensured the game didn’t unravel more than it already had, giving PSG the minutes they so desperately needed to regain composure and put a gameplan into action that saw them see out the tie.

(Getty Images)

Will Castle15 April 2025 23:30

PSG weather Villa storm to book place in Champions League last four

(REUTERS)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Will Castle15 April 2025 23:15

Ezri Konsa: 'We showed tonight we can compete at the highest level'

"Very proud of the boys and what we did tonight,” Konsa told Amazon Prime. “The two goals at the start killed us but we showed great belief and character to get back into it. We won the second leg but it wasn't enough.

"At half-time we felt we had nothing to lose. We wanted to go out there and prove a point. We had chances, I think I scored the hardest one. I don't think we could have done any more. I missed the ball [for a header], it happens.

"He [Gianluigi Donnarumma] made some excellent saves. We showed tonight we can compete at the highest level and we want to do it again next season."

(Getty Images)

Will Castle15 April 2025 22:30

FULL-TIME! Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg.)

After half an hour, there was a feeling that Villa were about to be dumped out of the Champions League at a canter.

Then came what was so nearly one of the all-time comebacks.

While they won’t be in the last four, Unai Emery’s side proved they belonged with Europe’s heaviest hitters.

No shame to this Champions League exit - and as the fans continue to applaud and hail their plays, that fact is clear to see inside Villa Park.

(EPA)

Will Castle15 April 2025 21:56