‘Definitely Capable’ – Dan Bardell Explains How Aston Villa Can Overpower PSG in Champions League | OneFootball

After a dramatic showdown at Anfield, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-1 win over Liverpool in extra time. Now, they’re set to face another Premier League challenge in Aston Villa, with a spot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals at stake.

PSG fought hard to get past Liverpool, eventually triumphing in a tense penalty shootout. On the other hand, Aston Villa had an easier time, breezing past Club Brugge with a commanding 6-1 aggregate win in the Round of 16.

Villa gained the upper hand with a 3-1 victory in the first leg. In the second, Marco Asensio—on loan from PSG—scored twice, and Ian Maatsen added another in a 3-0 win, sealing the tie.

Will Aston Villa thrive in an underdog role against PSG?

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The international break is almost over, and with March coming to a close, all eyes will be on PSG and Aston Villa next month as they battle for a spot in the semifinals. Ahead of the clash, talkSPORT’s Dan Bardell said Villa will embrace their underdog status and believes they can knock out the Parisians.

“I think it suits Villa being the underdog,” Bardell said. “I think it suits Unai Emery being the underdog. I think if Villa manage the two legs correctly, there’s no reason why we can’t go through. Look, PSG are frightening.

“The way they played across those two legs against Liverpool—two top, top, top performances and their front three is scary, and their midfield three is scary… They’ve got a host of unbelievable footballers, and it seems to have glued it all together and knitted it all together very, very nicely back as well. Very physical.

Moreover, Bardell noted that Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will play a major role in advancing against his former club.

“Unai Emery is a European expert,” Bardell added. “If Villa can go to PSG and come away with it being close in the first leg, Villa are very, very good at Villa Park. Only lost two games this season at Villa Park, and one of them was in the Carabao Cup with the third team.

“The other one was the first home game of the season against Arsenal. So we’re used to picking up results at Villa Park. I just think that if Villa play to their maximum and PSG maybe don’t have enough across the two legs, which is definitely capable of happening.”