Aston Villa push PSG to the brink in UEFA Champions League heartbreaker

Aston Villa nearly overturned a heavy first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain before bowing out of the Champions League on a dramatic night at Villa Park.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Villa’s hopes of a historic semi-final berth appeared dashed when PSG struck twice within 30 minutes. Emiliano Martinez’s mistake gifted Achraf Hakimi the opener before Nuno Mendes doubled the visitors’ lead, leaving Villa needing four goals to progress.

Unai Emery’s side responded with resilience and flair. Youri Tielemans pulled one back before half-time via a deflected strike, reigniting belief inside a sold-out Villa Park.

The momentum carried into the second half, with John McGinn firing home from distance and Ezri Konsa completing a quickfire double to put Villa 3-2 ahead on the night and within one goal of levelling the tie.

PSG were visibly rattled as the home side pressed for a fourth. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced three crucial stops — denying Marcus Rashford, Tielemans, and Marco Asensio — to preserve the French side’s aggregate advantage.

Villa’s high-intensity display eventually faded as PSG regained composure and saw out the tie, booking a place in the semi-final where they will face either Arsenal or Real Madrid.

Despite the defeat, Villa received a standing ovation at full-time for their remarkable European campaign. Emery, visibly emotional, described his players as “immense” and said the performance was one of pride.

Donnarumma, who had also starred in PSG’s previous knockout round win on penalties at Anfield, was once again the decisive figure. His saves prevented a spectacular collapse and earned him plaudits as the player of the match.

Prince William and Prince George were among those watching in the stands as Villa came agonisingly close to a famous result.

Villa’s spirited showing marked a significant step forward in their European journey, with their quarter-final run earning widespread acclaim despite the narrow exit.