Aston Villa 3 PSG 2 (4-5 on agg): Villa deliver historic Champions League night
Even in defeat, this was still one of Villa Park’s greatest nights. Truly, a game for the ages.
Seemingly down and crashing out against Paris Saint-Germain, trailing 5-1 on aggregate, Unai Emery’s team came within a whisker of pulling off a famous comeback.
It was not to be. Villa’s terrific Champions League journey is over at the quarter-final stage. But this night, more than any other this season, confirmed they belong at this level.
When Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes put PSG two up on the night and four clear on aggregate, it seemed a question of how many the French side would win by.
Yet Villa came roaring back. Youri Tielemans pulled one back before the break before John McGinn and Ezri Konsa scored within the space of two second half minutes to reduce the aggregate deficit to one.
PSG, who suffered the biggest collapse in European football history when they blew a four-goal lead against Barcelona with Emery in their dugout and their current boss, Luis Enrique, must have feared history repeating.
It required two superb saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had already denied Marcus Rashford in spectacular fashion, to prevent Villa pulling level in the tie. The second of those efforts was from Marco Asensio against his parent club.
In the end, this brilliant PSG held out, proving they have the mettle to go with their undoubted quality.
Villa were consigned to a defeat which will sting, no matter how brave. To lose by such a narrow margin will cause sleepless nights, memories of those moments which did not go their way, from Mendes’ late crucial goal in Paris, to the Emi Martinez mistake which allowed Hakimi to open the scoring here.
The final frustration saw Willian Pacho, who had deflected both Tielemans and McGinn goals into the net, block on the line from Ian Maatsen in stoppage time.
Emery booted a water bottle in frustration on his way off the pitch at full-time, while Prince William, watching from the stands, blew out his cheeks. When the dust settles, there should only be pride.
Emery had reiterated the fact Villa had “nothing to lose” in his programme notes but the line-up did not suggest do or die, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara both starting in midfield. Marcus Rashford got the nod ahead of Ollie Watkins up front.
The visiting team featured two changes from Paris and one of those was expected with skipper Marquinhos, free of suspension, returning to the heart of defence.
Enrique also opted to replace Desire Doue, scorer of that sublime equaliser six days previously, with Bradley Barcola in the attacking three. On paper, it made his team no weaker.
The atmosphere which had been building steadily through the evening exploded at kick-off, albeit after a slightly bizarre moment when the teams lined up to the Conference League music, rather than Champions League.
It was quickly forgotten. The roar which greeted Villa winning a corner in the opening minute was approaching that of a goal. It almost resulted in one, Joao Neves getting a vital touch on Tielemans’ flick to take it away from Onana.
Villa were driving forward but that left space at the back and in the 11th minute Hakimi’s goal, following an error by Martinez, took the wind out of their sails.
Rashford lost the ball in attack and the visitors quickly switched play. Martinez seemed to be distracted by the presence of Pau Torres but still should have held Barcola’s cross. Hakimi’s shot took a nick off the desperate keeper’s leg but there was no stopping it.
Villa were still where they began the night, needing three goals, yet their energy felt reduced.
Donnarumma prevented Torres from restoring when he saved his shot on the turn, while Rogers curled an effort just past the post.
In the 27th minute, PSG struck again. Just as the first goal, it came from a lightning break, Onana having run into trouble in the opposing box. Dembele held his run to stay onside and found Mendes. The finish off the post gave Martinez no chance. For Villa, it already looked mission impossible.
Tielemans provided some hope and some much-needed cheer when he pulled one back before the break. The midfielder’s shot took a big deflection off Willian Pacho to beat Donnarumma but no home supporter cared.
At half-time, the visitors still seemed in complete control. But they were given a warning when Donnarumma denied Rashford at close range soon after the restart and then, in what felt the blink of an eye, the tie was transformed.
McGinn was allowed to run unchallenged from his own half and unleash a shot which took a nick off Pacho to loop into the top corner and restore parity on the night.
Then it was the Rashford show. First, he brought a flying save from Donnarumma after cutting in from left. Undeterred, he then skipped past Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha from the resulting corner before pulling the ball back for Konsa to slam home. Villa Park can rarely have heard noise like it.
Things almost got louder a minute later when a floundering visiting defence failed to deal with a Rashford cross. Tielemans sent his header toward goal but again Donnarumma was there to make a stunning save.
The keeper’s work was far from finished. Midway through the half Emery introduced Asensio against his parent club and when a through ball skipped through to the forward the script looked ready to be written. But Donnarumma was out quickly to block the shot at point-blank range.
Moments later the visitors had a let-off when Rashford sent in a free-kick and from inside the six-yard box Konsa somehow missed the header. Emery threw himself to the ground in frustration.
Martinez atoned for his earlier error when he prevented Dembele from sealing the tie. The keeper also denied Doue after he had come off the bench but the last word fell to Pacho, who prevented Maatsen from sending the tie to extra-time when he blocked his volley on the line.
Villa (4-3-3): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana (Asensio 66), Kamara, Tielemans (Barkley 89), McGinn (Ramsey 66), Rogers, Rashford Subs not used: Disasi, Mings, Bogarde, Bailey, Olsen (gk), Proctor (gk).
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia Subs not used: Doue (Barcola 58), Hernandez, Kimpembe, Lee, Beraldo, Ramos, Mayulu, Zaire-Emery, Mbaye, Tenas (gk), Safonov (gk).
