Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals, although they suffered against an Aston Villa that was close to forcing extra time in a second-leg match full of emotions.
With a 3-1 lead from the first leg, PSG extended their overall lead to 5-1 thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. However, a goal from Youri Tielemans for Villa, followed by goals from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa, ignited the hope of the English team, who managed to get to 3-2 on the scoreboard.
Villa had opportunities to tie the aggregate score, but PSG held on and secured their place in the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the match between Real Madrid and Arsenal.
Villa fights, but reacts late
Aston Villa fought until the end in this vibrant quarter-final match, but their reaction came too late. PSG, with the quality that characterizes them, knew how to remain calm.
Once Mendes scored to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute, PSG seemed to be in complete control of the tie. Tielemans’ goal for Villa gave the home team hope.
In the second half, Villa showed a new face and almost turned the match around with goals from McGinn and Konsa. Although they had clear chances to tie the aggregate score, PSG held on.
A valuable lesson for PSG
PSG, a young and promising team, still has much room for improvement, as demonstrated by this match. After a dominant first half, where they reached a 5-1 lead on aggregate, the team relaxed, and Villa took advantage of the situation.
Desiré Doue and Achraf Hakimi celebrate after securing PSG’s place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
PSG looked careless and allowed Villa back into the match. Against a stronger team, they could have paid dearly for that lack of intensity. On Tuesday, they learned a very valuable lesson.
Rashford proves his worth
Marcus Rashford had a match of two halves. In the first half, his performance was poor, but in the second half, coach Unai Emery trusted him and Rashford responded.
After the break, Rashford showed great improvement, came close to scoring with a spectacular shot, and assisted Konsa in the goal that put Villa ahead on the scoreboard. Despite his effort, he was substituted, but he made his potential clear.
Donnarumma wins the goalkeepers’ duel
Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG goalkeeper, was key for his team, making crucial saves in the second half, when Villa was pressing. His save on a powerful shot by Rashford was the best of the match.
Frank Leboeuf criticizes PSG players for “faking to play” after leading 5-1 on aggregate, after Aston Villa almost managed an impressive comeback.
Emi Martínez, Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, also had important interventions, but Donnarumma was the one who made the difference for PSG.
Luis Enrique got the PSG strategy right
Luis Enrique, PSG coach, once again demonstrated his tactical ability. The choice to put Barcola in the starting lineup instead of Doué on the left wing was the right one, as the former generated the first goal of the match.
The strategy of PSG’s full-backs, who move forward to attack, was also key. Mendes and Hakimi, with their goals, contributed to the team’s victory.
The best full-back pair in the world
PSG’s full-back pair, Mendes and Hakimi, is currently the best in the world. Their speed, energy, maturity, and ability to score goals and create opportunities put them above the rest.
His defensive performance has also improved significantly, as Mendes demonstrated against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. In the match against Villa, both full-backs scored, demonstrating their importance to the team.
