PSG host Aston Villa in the first leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final.
PSG saw off Liverpool on penalties in the Round of 16 to reach this stage, whilst Aston Villa cruised past Club Brugge to secure their Quarter-Final spot.
Team News
Marquinhos is suspended for PSG after he accumulated three yellow cards so far in this season’s competition.
Lee Kang-in is a doubt for selection after he missed PSG’s last three matches with an ankle injury.
Villa could welcome Leon Bailey (knock) back into contention subject to fitness checks.
Ross Barkley (knee) remains sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
PSG host Villa at Parc des Princes on Wednesday 9 April at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is PSG’s first-ever meeting against Aston Villa in all UEFA competitions.
- Villa are making their first visit to PSG across all competitions.
- Marquinhos was booked in each of PSG’s last two matches in this competition, which came against Liverpool in the Round of 16.
- Villa have kept just one clean sheet in their five away games in this season’s Champions League (W3, L2).
Prediction
With their Ligue 1 title now sewn up following heavy rotation in a scrappy win over Angers, PSG can afford to focus solely on this Quarter-Final tie although I do think that they’ve been disrespectful by postponing this weekend’s domestic match against Le Havre to get a fitness advantage whereas Villa can’t postpone their trip to Southampton.
As for Villa, they too made several changes last weekend in a clinical home win over Nottingham Forest where they were on the front foot initially, before digging in defensively with a stubborn second-half performance to protect their lead despite poor marking of Forest’s sole goal from Jota Silva.
This tie though will be interesting because Marco Asensio brings the experience of PSG’s style to Villa given that he is on loan from the French champions and is in hot form as is Marcus Rashford, whilst PSG seem to have played themselves into form at the right time in this competition.
Nevertheless I do expect this to be a fierce battle in Paris and with Unai Emery’s prowess on the European stage, Villa could surprise despite their away form in Europe and actually nick something here if can replicate their defensive stubbornness.
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Aston Villa
