Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a significant advantage in their Champions League quarter-final against Aston Villa, winning 3-1 in the first leg. Nuno Mendes’ late strike sealed the victory, leaving Villa with a tough task to overturn the deficit in the second leg.
Match Highlights
The match got off to a lively start, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. However, it was Aston Villa who took the lead through Morgan Rogers’ 35th-minute goal. The visitors’ forward arrived at the far post to turn in Youri Tielemans’ cross from the left, sending the away support into raptures.
However, PSG quickly responded with Desire Doué’s 39th-minute equalizer. The 19-year-old midfielder left Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez helpless with a magnificent curling drive from 20 yards.
The second half saw PSG take control of the match, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia putting them ahead four minutes after halftime. The Georgian winger turned substitute Axel Disasi before drilling a powerful shot high past Martinez at his near post.
Mendes Seals the Win
The match seemed to be heading for a 2-1 scoreline, but Mendes had other ideas. The PSG midfielder sealed the win with a 90th-minute goal, capitalizing on a defensive error to sit Martinez on the floor before shooting into the roof of the net.
Post-Match Reactions
PSG coach Luis Enrique was delighted with his team’s performance, saying: “I think we deserved to win the match, and scoring in the last minute was great for us and our confidence.”
Kvaratskhelia, who was instrumental in PSG’s attack, added: “We’re happy with this result, but we have to keep going as there’s the second game and the job is not finished.”
Aston Villa coach Unai Emery was disappointed with his team’s defensive error, but remained optimistic about their chances in the second leg. “The third goal doesn’t change a lot,” he said. “At 2-1, we were thinking of the second leg as a game that we would want to win.”
Key Stats
PSG’s win means they have now beaten three English sides in this season’s Champions League: Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, are without a win in their six away matches against French teams (D2 L4).
Desire Doué’s goal was his fourth consecutive outing, netting a total of five goals in that time. The 19-year-old midfielder has been in impressive form for PSG, and will be looking to continue his scoring run in the second leg.
What’s Next?
The second leg takes place at Villa Park on April 15. PSG will be looking to maintain their lead, while Aston Villa will need to overturn a two-goal deficit to progress to the semi-finals. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to make a strong impression in the competition.