UEFA Champions League - Aston Villa VS Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Prediction
UEFA Champions League - Aston Villa VS Paris Saint Germain (PSG)
Match Time:16-04-2025 03:00 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Aston Villa
Heading into the decisive second leg against PSG, Aston Villa are virtually at full strength, with manager Unai Emery enjoying the luxury of a deep and healthy squad. The only notable absentee remains Leon Bailey, who is still recovering from injury. The Jamaican winger is nearing a return to full fitness but is not expected to be involved on Tuesday night, let alone start.
Sensing the opportunity to script one of Villa’s greatest European nights in the modern era, Emery is set to bring back several first-choice players who were rested over the weekend. Key names such as Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, and Boubacar Kamara, all left out of the starting lineup in the 3-0 win over Southampton, are poised to return to the XI.
Ollie Watkins, who did not start the first leg in Paris but came off the bench to score at the weekend, is all but guaranteed to lead the line in what is now a must-win scenario. Aston Villa are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Emiliano Martinez retaining his place in goal. The defensive unit should feature Matty Cash at right-back, Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres in central defence, and Lucas Digne returning to his natural left-back role.
In midfield, Boubacar Kamara will offer defensive steel alongside Youri Tielemans, allowing Aston Villa to regain control of possession and dictate tempo in the middle of the park. Ahead of them, the creative trio will likely consist of Morgan Rogers on the right, John McGinn in the central playmaker’s role, and Marcus Rashford cutting in from the left flank.
At centre-forward, Ollie Watkins is the focal point. With his pace, movement, and finishing ability, he will look to stretch the PSG backline and exploit any lapses in concentration. Watkins, supported by a resurgent attacking midfield, is Villa’s best hope of unlocking a Parisien defence that has at times shown vulnerability in transition.
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique will travel to Birmingham with the rare luxury of a fully fit and suspension-free squad at his disposal. Most notably, club captain Marquinhos returns from the suspension that kept him out of the first leg in Paris. His reinstatement in the heart of defence is expected to come at the expense of Lucas Beraldo, who filled in admirably but will likely return to the bench for this crucial return fixture.
Beyond that change, Enrique is unlikely to tinker with a side that executed the first leg plan with efficiency and composure. Ousmane Dembele, in particular, remains the man of the moment, his extraordinary run of form now includes 42 goal contributions from 41 appearances across all competitions this season. The Frenchman is not only PSG’s sharpest attacking weapon, but his all-around performances have catapulted him into early Ballon d’Or contention.
In midfield, Vitinha produced a record-setting display in the first leg, completing 148 passes — the most ever recorded by a PSG player in a Champions League match, and second only to Xavi’s 161 in a Champions League knockout game. His rhythm and control will be key again in a potentially hostile Villa Park atmosphere.
Tactically, PSG will set up in a 4-3-3 formation against Aston Villa. Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal, shielded by a back four featuring Achraf Hakimi at right-back, Marquinhos and William Pacho in central defence, and Nuno Mendes continuing to offer both defensive cover and forward threat on the left flank.
In midfield, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Joao Neves are expected to form a well-balanced trio. Vitinha will operate as the deep-lying playmaker, with Ruiz providing link-up between phases and Neves offering industry and ball-winning capabilities.
Up front, Desire Doue, who scored a stunning goal in the first leg, will operate off the right, with Ousmane Dembele likely floating centrally or from the opposite flank to exploit half-spaces with his pace and vision. On the left, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia brings a combination of flair and finishing that makes him a nightmare for any defence.
PSG will aim to manage the tempo early, use their midfield control to silence the crowd, and let their dynamic front line pick off any openings that arise. With a two-goal cushion, Enrique’s men don’t need to chase the gam, but they have more than enough firepower to end it.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Aston Villa vs PSG Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The only match that has been played between PSG and Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League took place in the reverse fixture and ended in a 3-1 victory for PSG.
Aston Villa have lost three of their last four matches against opponents from France in major European competitions, with each of these defeats coming in succession.
PSG have been eliminated in three of the seven ties in which they have managed to win the first leg by a margin of at least two goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Aston Villa lost the first leg of a European knockout fixture by a margin of at least two goals for the third time last week - they have failed to progress to the next round on each of the two previous occasions.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG win 5-3 on aggregate)
Expect fireworks to fly at what will be a boisterous Villa Park on Tuesday night, where PSG should witness the best of English atmospheres on Champions League nights and also the best of Aston Villa on the offensive front.
However, as Emery's men go all out for the comeback, they will be simultaneously playing into their visitors' hands, and Enrique's lightning attack can bite back just as hard to set up a tantalising semi-final with either Arsenal or Real Madrid.
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