The first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Aston Villa will take place on Wednesday, April 9th, at 22:00 at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Over 45,000 spectators are expected to attend this thrilling encounter.
Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG are the favorites both for this match and for advancing to the semifinals, where they would face the winner of the Arsenal vs. Real Madrid clash.
PSG vs Aston Villa First Leg Preview in Europe Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain’s Road to the Quarterfinals
PSG, the French champions, have had a mixed performance in the league but have managed to climb to 15th place after three consecutive victories. Their qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League was also a bit bumpy. In the Round of 16, they were initially defeated 1-0 at home by Liverpool, but pulled off a stunning 1-0 win at Anfield, and triumphed 4-1 in the penalty shootout.
The team, purchased by Qatar Sports Investment in 2011, has invested heavily in hopes of winning the Champions League. Their closest attempt came in the 2019-2020 season, where they lost in the final to Bayern Munich, despite having a star-studded attacking trio consisting of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Ángel Di María.
PSG’s best performance in Europe came in 1996, when they won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and again in 2001 with the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Despite the loss of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé has stepped up as a key figure in the attack, having scored 32 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions. He has been in excellent form, scoring seven times in the current Champions League edition.
PSG also boasts the youngest starting XI in the competition, with an average age of 22 years and 242 days.
Injuries to Lee Kang-In and a suspension for Marquinhos will be key absences for the Parisians.
Aston Villa’s Strong Return to the Champions League
Aston Villa, after a 41-year absence from the competition, have made a remarkable return to the Champions League. They finished 8th in the group stage with 16 points, suffering two defeats on the road, but impressively reached the Round of 16. There, they faced Club Brugge, and surprisingly won both legs (3-1 away and 3-0 at home).
The “Villans” have a rich European history, having won the Champions League in 1981-1982 under legendary manager Ron Saunders, defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final.
Aston Villa’s current form under Unai Emery has been impressive, and the team is now a serious contender in both domestic and European competitions. Emery extended his contract with Villa until 2029, and the club’s ambitions are growing stronger each year.
Aston Villa statistics
Ollie Watkins has been in exceptional form, with 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, making him the team’s top scorer. Additionally, the team added Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, who has contributed four goals and three assists since joining.
Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, has also proven himself, scoring three goals in the two matches against Club Brugge.
In the Premier League, Villa is battling for a European qualification spot, sitting in 7th place with 51 points, just one point behind Manchester City in 5th.
Aston Villa’s squad is missing Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia from their UEFA list, while Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey are uncertain for this match.
PSG vs Aston Villa First Leg – Head-to-Head
Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa have never met in European competitions before, so this match will be their first official encounter on the continental stage.
Luis Enrique and Unai Emery have faced each other ten times in their managerial careers, with Enrique leading 7-2, and one match ending in a draw.
Betting Suggestions
- PSG to Win: Given their home advantage and superior squad depth, PSG are the clear favorites to win this match. Betting on a PSG win seems like a safe bet, especially with their attacking power and strong European pedigree.
- Over 2.5 Goals: Both teams have been involved in high-scoring games in the Champions League, and with PSG’s attacking talents and Villa’s surprising offensive prowess, this game could see more than two goals. The over 2.5 goals market offers good value.
- PSG to Win and Both Teams to Score: While PSG are likely to win, Aston Villa have shown they can score, especially with key players like Watkins and Rashford. This combination offers good odds and seems plausible.
- Ousmane Dembélé to Score Anytime: Dembélé is in fantastic form, and he is PSG’s most dangerous attacking player at the moment. Betting on him to score at any time during the match could be a worthwhile wager.
