*Match preview and betting tips provided by SVB Tips
First Leg Recap
Despite being outplayed for most of the game, Aston Villa struck first through Morgan Rogers in the 35th minute. However, PSG responded with an equaliser before half-time, plus two more after the break, including the crucial third in stoppage time.
Aston Villa – Mission (Almost) Impossible?
Unai Emery’s team faces a daunting two-goal deficit. While Villa has impressed under his leadership, PSG’s form makes a comeback highly unlikely. The club is looking to replicate its glory from 1982, when it won Europe’s top club competition—but the odds are stacked against them.
Their Champions League journey so far hasn’t been the toughest. Villa finished 8th in the league stage (16 points: 5W, 1D, 2L), then cruised past Club Brugge in the Round of 16 with a 6-1 aggregate win.
- Ollie Watkins, 29, is Villa’s main man in attack with 15 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, though he has only 1 Champions League goal (vs Celtic).
- Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, has been a revelation—8 goals and 1 assist since arriving in February.
- Morgan Rogers is enjoying a breakout season, earning a contract extension until 2030. Liverpool reportedly have their eye on him.
Unai Emery, with the help of Monchi, has rebuilt Villa into a competitive side that returned to the Champions League for the first time since 1983. They're also fighting for a European spot in the Premier League, sitting 7th with 54 points, just one behind the top five.
Injuries: Only Leon Bailey is sidelined.
PSG – Hungry for Their First Champions League Title
With one foot in the semifinals, PSG are hitting top gear at the right time. They're now second-favorites to win the competition, just behind Barcelona. The French champions have never won the Champions League in their 54-year history. Their closest call came in 2020, when they lost the final to Bayern Munich.
Their journey hasn’t been smooth:
- Struggled early in the league stage, but rallied late to finish 15th and qualify.
- Blew past Brest in the Round of 16 (3-0 and 7-0 wins).
- Survived a tense battle with Liverpool in the quarterfinals (2-1 aggregate), dominating both legs.
Notable Stats:
- Only 4 wins in 17 matches on English soil .
- Ousmane Dembélé is having a career-best season: 32 goals & 8 assists in 41 games; 7 goals in the UCL.
- Bradley Barcola has been exceptional too: 18 goals & 15 assists, despite not always starting.
Luis Enrique is under immense pressure to finally deliver the Champions League trophy for PSG. The squad is fully fit and rested after skipping league duties over the weekend, having already secured the Ligue 1 title.
Head-to-Head
- Only one previous meeting: PSG 3-1 Aston Villa (last week)
- Managers' record: 12th meeting between Unai Emery and Luis Enrique
- Emery wins: 2
- Enrique wins: 8
Betting Suggestions
1. PSG to win– Already ahead 3-1 and in excellent form, this feels safe.
2. Both Teams to Score (BTTS) – Villa needs to attack, and PSG is dangerous on the counter.
3. Ousmane Dembélé to Score Anytime – 32 goals this season and in red-hot form.
4. Over 2.5 Goals – Villa must push forward, which likely opens up the match.
5. Marco Asensio to Have 1+ Shot on Target – Facing his parent club, in form, and motivated.