Aston Villa sent worrying PSG message – ‘They just can’t stop’
Aston Villa supporters dreamed of nights like they are experiencing this season, when they were floundering in the Championship just a matter of years ago.
Having swept aside Club Brugge in the first knockout round of the Champions League, Unai Emery is reconnecting with his European pedigree to attempt to eliminate his former side Paris Saint-Germain.
Phase one of the plan begins as Emery returns to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night (9 April), with the return leg at what will be a raucous, electric Villa Park six days later.
Aston Villa underdog status doubled down on by expert analyst
Many neutrals would probably just predict PSG to edge past Aston Villa given what they did to Liverpool in the last round, winning on penalties in an overall tie they dominated.
Emery had a mixed time in Paris including letting slip a four-goal aggregate lead in the Champions League to Barcelona, an infamous night in 2017 from his perspective which is forever etched in the tournament’s history books.
TV commentator Ian Darke was thoroughly impressed with Luis Enrique’s Parisians against Liverpool and believes it would take a “sensation” for the Villans to see the semi-finals.
Darke did however admit, exclusively talking to Villa News, that Emery’s side are very capable of matching the already-crowned French champions on home turf next week.
“Aston Villa have had some great nights in Europe – like the Bayern Munich game – and they’re certainly capable,” he said.
“I think they can make it a big test at Villa Park. In Paris, it’s maybe a different story. The big impression you get watching PSG is they have so many talented players and they just can’t stop creating chances.
“They’re going to be amazingly hard to contain, but Villa and Emery might rather relish the role of being underdogs and proving people wrong. I can’t sit and call it otherwise – the logical feeling is that PSG are one of the very best in Europe under Enrique. It would be a sensation if Villa go through.”
PSG have won 21 out of 23 in 2025
Aston Villa may fancy their chances by playing the second leg on home turf – however, PSG’s form has been scarily consistent.
As much can be said as possible about the levels in France on a weekly basis, but PSG have won every single away game they have played since the turn of the year, and have only dropped Ligue 1 points in 2025 at home to Reims on 25 January.
| Aston Villa – Champions League quarter-final | Date |
| PSG v Aston Villa | 9 April |
| Aston Villa v PSG | 15 April |
The defeat by Liverpool in the first leg of their last 16 tie came against the run of play, as Harvey Elliott’s smash-and-grab goal with his first touch was still not enough to take Arne Slot’s men through.
Villa have the task to end all tasks – but the semi-final incentive is huge, and would be against Arsenal or Real Madrid – likely the Gunners after their 3-0 first-leg win on Tuesday – in the last four.