*Match preview and betting tips provided by SVB Tips
Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites both for this match and for advancing to the semifinals, where they would face the winner of the Arsenal vs. Real Madrid clash.
PSG’s Road to the Quarterfinals
The French champions experienced mixed fortunes in the group stage, but managed to climb to 15th place after three consecutive victories. In the Round of 16, they were initially defeated 1-0 at home by Liverpool, but pulled off a stunning 1-0 win at Anfield, and triumphed 4-1 in the penalty shootout.
The team, purchased by Qatar Sports Investment in 2011, has invested heavily in hopes of winning the Champions League. Their closest attempt came in the 2019-2020 season, when they lost in the final to Bayern Munich, despite having a star-studded attacking trio consisting of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Ángel Di María.
Following the departure of Mbappé to Real Madrid, Ousmane Dembélé has stepped up as a key figure in attack, having scored 32 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions. He has been in excellent form, scoring seven times in the current Champions League campaign.
PSG also boast the youngest starting XI in the competition, with an average age of 22 years and 8 months.
Injuries to Lee Kang-In and a suspension for Marquinhos will be key absentees for the Parisians.
Aston Villa’s Strong Return to the Champions League
Aston Villa, after a 41-year absence from the competition, have made a remarkable return to the Champions League. They finished 8th in the group stage with 16 points, suffering just two defeats on the road reach the Round of 16, where the beat Club Brugge 3-1 away and 3-0 at home.
The Villans have a rich European history, having won the Champions League in 1981-1982 under legendary manager Ron Saunders, defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final.
Aston Villa’s current form under Unai Emery has been impressive, and the team is now a serious contender in both domestic and European competitions. Emery extended his contract with Villa until 2029, and the club’s ambitions are growing stronger each year.
Ollie Watkins has been in exceptional form, with 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, making him the team's top scorer. Additionally, the team added Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, who has contributed four goals and three assists since joining. Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, has also proven himself, scoring three goals in the two matches against Club Brugge.
In the Premier League, Villa are battling for a European qualification spot, sitting in 7th place with 51 points, just one point behind Manchester City in 5th.
Villa's squad is missing Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia from their UEFA list, while Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey are uncertain for this match.
Head-to-Head
PSG have never faced Villa in European competition before, but Luis Enrique and Unai Emery have faced each other ten times in their managerial careers, with Enrique leading 7-2, and one match ending in a draw.
Betting Suggestions
- PSG to Win: Given their home advantage and superior squad depth, PSG are the clear favourites to convert their pedigree into a first-leg advantage.
- Over 2.5 Goals: Both teams have been involved in high-scoring games in the Champions League, and with PSG's attacking talents and Villa's surprising offensive prowess, this game could well produce more than two goals.
- PSG to Win and Both Teams to Score: While PSG are likely to win, Villa have shown they can find the back of the net, especially with key players like Watkins, Rogers, Ascensio and Rashford all in top form.
- Ousmane Dembélé to Score Anytime: Dembélé is in fantastic form, and he is PSG's most dangerous attacking player at the moment, so it would be no surprise to see his name on the scoresheet.