Despite conceding a goal on the counterattack to fall behind, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) produced a storming display to beat Aston Villa 3-1 at the Parc des Princes and take control of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. Each of the three strikes was magnificent, as Luis Enrique’s team – already crowned French champions – sent a warning to the continent’s finest.
Unai Emery, who was PSG coach between 2016 and 2018, sent his Villa team out to sit tight and play on the counter, and the home side bossed possession. Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were constant threats, while Desire Doue also showcased what a danger he could be.
Villa, who had only 24 per cent possession over the 90 minutes, struck first though, with John McGinn’s tenacity winning the ball back wide on the right near the halfway line. He fed Marcus Rashford on the left, and his ball down the line released Youri Tielemans. His flashed cross across the six-yard box was clinically put away by Morgan Rogers.
Instead of deflating PSG, that shock appeared to spur them. Three minutes later, Doue got the ball on the left edge of the penalty box. He shifted feet, cut inside and arrowed a perfect curling shot past Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal.
PSG now look to have ended one more English Champions League dream
Four minutes after the restart, Kvaratskhelia showed why Napoli fans used to call him ‘Kvaradona’. Released down the left wing by Fabian Ruiz, also once of Napoli, he cut inside, left Axel Disasi for dead by rolling his studs over the ball and then rifled an unstoppable shot past Martinez at the near post.
Martinez was spared more blushes when Achraf Hakimi’s strike was ruled out for offside, but there was no reprieve in injury time when Dembele put Nuno Mendes, the left-back, through on goal. He shaped to shoot with his left, then chopped back inside and finished beautifully with his right. Game, and perhaps tie, over.
When Kylian Mbappe left for Real Madrid in the summer, Enrique confidently asserted that it would make PSG a better team. After putting out Liverpool in the last round, PSG now look to have ended one more English Champions League dream.
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