Key events
19 min: The ball drops to Rashford down the inside-left channel. His shot is blocked but at the expense of a corner, which Rashford takes himself. It’s easily cleared. But the ball is looped back into the mixer, then headed backwards strangely by Vitinha, dropping to Torres who has a whack from a tight angle on the left. Donnarumma stands tall and parries. Better from Villa.
17 min: Digne and McGinn try to get something going down the left, but Hakimi won’t budge. Not much in the way of a Villa response yet.
15 min: That’s muted the Villa fans, who have had their hopes seriously dented in double-quick time. The 2,000-strong PSG contingent are making themselves heard, though, with plenty of help from a very energetic drummer. The midlands are the heartland of heavy metal, after all.
13 min: Villa were on the attack just before the goal, only to be sprung on the counter. Morgan had won good possession in the middle of the park, and his team-mates advanced. He fed Rashford, who took a loose touch, and PSG sprung on the counter, Nuno Mendes pinging a long pass down the left to send Barcola on his way. Villa with a mountain to climb now.
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 PSG (Hakimi 11); agg 1-4
Barcola advances down the left. He crosses low, hoping to find Dembele in the middle. Martinez gets down to block but can’t keep hold of the ball. He tees up Hakimi, who from the penalty spot sweeps the loose ball into the top-left corner.
9 min: Rogers, Tielemans and Rashford combine elegantly down the right touchline, the latter nearly making space for a shot. Marquinhos is on point to put an end to Villa’s scheme. Speaking of scheming, here’s David Howell on that Uefa anthem switcheroo: “Accident? Or lucky charm considering Unai Emery’s record in matches preceded by that particular anthem?”
7 min: Konsa and Torres dally under a long ball down the PSG left. Dembele nips in and advances towards the box, sending a low cross in towards Barcola. It’s blocked and cleared, but for a nanosecond there, it looked like Villa were going to be architects of their own downfall.
5 min: Villa are first to everything at the moment. PSG yet to retain possession for any meaningful stretch of time. The home fans approve. The away end are giving it plenty as well, mind you.
3 min: From the second corner, Rashford dribbles in dangerously from the right but the PSG box is full of defenders and one of them whacks clear. A lively start by the hosts.
2 min: Rashford whips it viciously towards the near post. Tielemans flicks it on, the ball flashing through the six-yard box. João Neves eyebrows it out for a corner on the other side.
1 min: McGinn loops a pass down the left for Rashford to chase. Hakimi shepherds the ball back to Donnarumma, who blooters clear. From the resulting throw, McGinn wins the first corner of the evening.
Villa kick off. They’re kicking towards the Holte End in this first half. It’s tipping down in Birmingham.
The teams are out! Villa in their storied claret, PSG in blue. The PA blasts out the Champions League anthem the Europa League music?! Oopsie. One hell of an atmosphere nonetheless. Ah, here’s the Champions League tune at the second time of asking. Better late than never. All the hits. We’ll be off in a minute.
There are four Aston Villa players who would miss the first leg of the semi-final should they pick up a yellow card. Marcus Rashford, Lucas Digne, Boubacar Kamara and Axel Disasi need to be on their best behaviour.
There is only one PSG player walking the disciplinary tightrope. Fabián Ruiz their only man on a yellow.
Emery and his opposite number Luis Enrique have met in the knockout stage of the Champions League before. Here’s how one of the great comebacks/capitulations unfolded. PSG as an institution, and Marquinhos, the only survivor from their team that fateful night, will always have their demons. Then again so will Emery, who watched things fall apart in spectacular fashion from the Paris dugout. Probably best for everyone involved tonight if we quietly change the subject.
Unai Emery talks to Amazon Prime. “Good evening … we are motivated … excited … we have momentum in the season … try to get every drop of energy transmitted from the supporters to the team … now is the moment to focus our game-plan …we competed fantastic in Paris … we can compete fantastic again but do something more … we have to play with the ball and without the ball … play high, play low … set pieces … dominate with the ball … win duels … this is the highest level we have faced this year … I am looking forward to see how the players respond.”
Aston Villa make one change to their starting XI from the first leg. Amadou Onana comes in for Jacob Ramsey, who drops to the bench.
PSG make two changes to their starting line-up in the wake of their 3-1 win last Wednesday. Marquinhos returns from suspension and replaces Lucas Beraldo in defence, while Bradley Barcola comes in for last week’s hero Désiré Doué. Beraldo and Doué are on the bench.
The teams
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Onana, Rogers, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford.
Subs: Olsen, Proctor, Disasi, Mings, Barkley, Watkins, Asensio, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey, Ramsey.
Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Fabian, Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
Subs: Tenas, Safonov, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Zaire Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye, Doue.
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (Spain).
Preamble
Six days ago this happened …
… so now the 1982 champions need a big performance if they’re to set up a semi-final showdown with either Arsenal or Real Madrid. It’s not beyond the realms – Villa have won seven of the 12 European ties in which they’ve been beaten in the first leg away from home – but PSG are 13 from 19 in Europe after winning the first leg at home, so both teams can take heart from history. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
