Stunning goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia propelled Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 turnaround victory against Aston Villa in the opening match of their series. UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.
Luis Enrique's newly crowned French champions took control early on but found themselves trailing despite the flow of the game during the first half-hour.
John McGinn dispossessed Nuno Mendes and initiated a well-structured counter-attack, which allowed Marcus Rashford to find Youri Tielemans for a precise pass to Morgan Rogers, who scored his 14th goal of the campaign with an easy finish.
PSG responded quickly and decisively with Doue – an unexpected addition instead of Bradley Barcola – surging forward from the left side, evading Rogers before delivering a stunning shot that hit the underside of the crossbar for a goal.
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Paris Saint-Germain versus Aston Villa match result
| 2nd Half | Goal scorers | |
| PSG | 3 | Due 39', Kvaratskhelia 49', Nuno Mendes 90+2' |
| Aston Villa | 1 | Rogers 35' |
Location: Parc des Princes, Paris
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Lineups:
PSG (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) - 2. Achraf Hakimi, 35. Lucas Beraldo, 51. Pacho, 25. Nuno Mendes - 17. Vitinha, 8. Fabian Ruiz (33. Warren Zaire-Emery) , 87. Joao Neves - 14. Desire Doueuvegne (29. Bradley Barcola) , 10. Ousmane Dembélé, 7. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Emiliano Martínez (GK) - 2. Marty Crachenworth (3. Axel Disasi) , 4. Ezri Konsa, 14. Pau Torres, 12. Lucas Digne - 44. Boubacar Kamara, 8. Youri Tielemans (24. Amadou Onana) - 7. John McGinn (22. Ian Maatsen) , 27. Morgan Rogers, 41. Jacob Ramsey (21. Marco Asensio) - 9. Marcus Rashford (11. Ollie Watkins) .
MORE: Emiliano Martinez's joke teases France ahead of Aston Villa's match against PSG in the Champions League.
The hosts' livewire wingers were the standout feature of the contest. Georgian magician Kvaratskhelia was a constant threat and he beat substitute Axel Disasi with a wonderful piece of dribbling before driving an unstoppable shot into the top corner, beyond Emiliano Martinez at the near post.
On the balance of play, Villa might have been nursing a heavier deficit long before left-back Nunos Mendes surged onto Ousmane Dembele's wonderfully weighted pass to coolly give the Parisians a vital two-goal cushion heading into next week's second leg in Birmingham.
That goal made this effervescent PSG side firm favourites to progress and they look far more likely European champions than any of their galactico-ridden predecessors.
PSG vs Aston Villa stats
| PSG | Stat | Aston Villa |
| 29 | Shots | 7 |
| 10 | Shots on target | 2 |
| 1.94 | Expected goals | 0.74 |
| 76% | Possession | 24% |
| 840 | Passes | 271 |
| 9 | Corners | 1 |
| 9 | Fouls | 8 |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 1 |
| 2 | Offsides | 1 |
PSG vs. Aston Villa live updates, highlights, and commentary
Fulltime
Zaire-Emery looks to add more punishment from distance but fires over and that's all we have time for. Luis Enrique is delighted on the sidelines. His team were superb, with Doue and Kvaratskhelia scoring absolute worldies. Nuno Mendes' third for PSG has swung the tie heavily in their favour. Thanks for joining us
90+2 mins : GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Nuno Mendes!!!!!
That feels like a huge moment in the tie and Villa now have a mountain to climb next week. Nuno Mendes surges into the box on the end of Dembele's wonderfully weighted pass, the left-back coolly chops inside Konsa and finishes with aplomb.
90+1 mins : Into three minutes of stoppage time. Rogers shoots on the turn but he's a little off balance and it flies off target.
88 mins : Villa hanging in there under pressure. They've been outplayed by a brilliant team, but 2-1 heading back to Villa Park certainly gives them a chance. It's a far better predicament than Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund have landed themselves in away from home.
80 mins : Asensio has a shot deflected behind but Villa can't make anything of the corner.
79 mins : Triple Villa change. Watkins, Onana and Maatsen on for Rashford, Tielemans and McGinn.
77 mins : Kvaratskhelia wants a penalty now after a nudge from Torres. No chance.
76 mins Kvaratskhelia pushes Villa back, and Joao Neves’ attempt is redirected out of play. Villa manage the ensuing corner kick.
73 mins Rogers from Villa advances and unleashes a powerful strike that Donnarumma manages to get his hands on.
71 mins : Hakimi into the net, but the offside flag is raised! Martinez's embarrassment was avoided when the PSG right-back sent a cross rocketing through his legs. Doué exits to a standing ovation. Bradley Barcola enters the pitch. Zaire-Emery takes over for Fabian Ruiz.
70 mins : Warren Zaire-Emery about to come on for PSG
67 mins Rogers has entered the book for taking out Vitinha.
66 mins : A long spell of possession from PSG ends with Beraldo hitting a daisy cutter that Martinez keeps out unfussily.
62 mins: PSG want a penalty for handball but the VAR check is over in a jiffy. Kvaratshkelia takes an in-swinging corner, flicked on by Joao Neves and gathered by Martinez.
59 mins Asensio is set to face his former team as he joins Villa, replacing Ramsey.
58 mins Dove charges ahead following more extraordinary play from Kvaratskhelia. The ball reaches Hakimi, who fires a powerful left-footer that Martinez parries away with his right hand.
55 mins : Kvaratskhelia is seriously in the mood. His latest shot spins behind off Disasi. Pacho heads the resulting corner over.
49 mins : GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! Khvicha Kvaratskhelia!!!!
Wow! Another fabulous goal! PSG's wide run finds Kvaratskhelia, who deftly controls the ball with exquisite touch beneath his cleats, outmaneuvering Disasi before unleashing a powerful drive into the upper far corner. Brilliant!
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Kickoff: 2nd Half
We have resumed play, and Villa has made a substitution with Disasi coming on for Cash. The yellow card Cash received likely factored into Unai Emery's decision.
Halftime
Villa scored first despite not being dominant, followed by an equalizer from Doue which leveled the game for PSG. The match remains balanced numerically, yet Villa possesses a skilled player who could make the difference.
45+1 mins : Doue with a slaloming run, astonishing skill. He's eventually stopped in the Villa box. I'm old enough to remember a couple of hours ago when the teenager's selection ahead of Barcola looked like a gamble from Luis Enrique. he's repaid him in spades.
44 mins : Doue lets fly again and Martinez pushes it clear. That shot was right above the Villa keeper. Either side and it was 2-1 because that was travelling.
42 mins : Rashford battles his way to the byline as Villa look to respond. PSG manage to prod clear. This one is rollicking towards halftime.
39 mins : GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Desire Doue!!!!!
No stopping that one! Rogers fatally lets Doue go past him a little too easily cutting in off the left. The teenager rams home a spectacular shot via the underside of the bar. Woof! Game on.
38 mins : Ohhhhh, Doue almost squeezes one past Martinez at the near post. The shot caught out the Villa keeper but he manages to scramble back and scoop it off the line.
35 mins : GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Morgan Rogers
Villa lead against the run of play with a beautifully worked counter-attack. It starts with McGinn, who ransacks Mendes and then spreads play to Rashford. He slips a pass to Tielemans to leave it on a plate for Rogers at the far post.
33 mins : After that pretty fraught opening, Villa are now keeping PSG at arm's length well enough.
30 mins: McGinn and Rogers set up Rashford with a pass. Despite being tightly marked as he attempts to enter the penalty area, he manages to maintain control of the ball effectively.
28 mins Villa clears a corner from the left and nearly breaks through Rashford. However, the hosts respond strongly, and although Emery’s team have another fleeting opportunity, it is quickly stifled before it can develop.
26 mins Kvaratskhelia dribbles the ball into the Villa penalty area searching for Neves who is making a run. Martinez comes out to clear it with his fists.
25 mins Villa now possess the ball within the PSG half. John McGinn’s choice to unleash a strike well wide from 35 yards doesn’t rank among his finest moments.
23 mins : PSG straight back into their work. Vitinha has time and space to crack one from the edge of the box, but it's always rising. Rasmey is still in some discomfort from the free-kick he won a couple of moments ago and needs treatment.
22 mins : Rogers drives out of the Villa half and looks for Rashford. The England forward brings it to Ramsey and that's a free-kick near halfway for the visitors. And breathe.
21 mins : Digne brings down Doue on the other side and PSG have a set-piece on the right. Taken short once more and Kvaratskhelia's eventual cross is headed clear by Kamara.
18 mins : Taken short to Hakimi, who lines a shot up from all of 30 yards. He loses his footing so he doesn't make a completely clean contact. Routine save for Martinez.
17 mins : Konsa caught in possession and Kvartaskhelia is all over him. Away he goes and Cash bring the Georgian star down to earn a booking. That's a long time on the tightrope to come for the Aston Villa right-back.
15 mins : Hakimi darts into the Villa box from the right. Martinez is out sharply for a smothering save. Villa are set up to contain but they need some sort of spell in possession soon or this could get really gruelling.
10 mins : Kvaratskhelia twisting and turning Cash, who could be in for a long night. Nuno Mendes comes to join in the fun from left-back and has a shot blocked.
7 mins : Strong early pressure from PSG. Corner taken short, here's Kvaratskhelia. He could have gone down there under Kamara's challenge. The ball breaks to Dembele, who draws a fine stop from Martinez.
3 mins Pleasing kicks from Doué, catching everyone off guard before Bradley Barcola gets his chance. This creates room for Dembélé, who attempts a long-range shot but sends it flying well above the target.
Kickoff: 1st Half
Villa get us underway.
5 mins before kickoff Here go the teams. An electric ambiance for each side.
15 mins before kickoff Did you have someone from the British royal family discussing at length how Villa could potentially navigate and counteract PSG’s pressing strategy on your bingo card for tonight? Not on mine either.
30 mins before kickoff: It’s already bustling and noisy at the Parc des Princes. Despite all the discussion about PSG's game-changing funding from Qatar and their international presence, their ultras remain just as fiercely devoted as those found anywhere else in Europe. You can expect an ambiance worth relishing.
1 hour before kickoff For the hosts, Desire Doue rounds out the dynamic forward line along with Dembele and Kvaratskhelia. Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, and Vitinha have formed one of the most impressive midfield trios in European football this season. It’s a joy to witness their play.
70 minutes prior to kick-off : Here's the Villa lineup for tonight. Marcus Rashford starts but Marco Asencio is only on the bench against his parent club.
1 hr 30 mins before kickoff : It should come as no surprise to anybody that Aston Villa goalkeeper, and Argentina's hero in their 2022 World Cup win over France, has been on the wind-up It will be an unfriendly environment at the Parc des Princes this evening. Look for Martinez to thrive in it.
2 hours before kickoff. Greetings and welcome to The Sporting News’ live updates for the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League. PSG secured their reign as French champions over the weekend. Will Luis Enrique guide them towards achieving their first-ever European crown?
PSG vs. Aston Villa kick off time
The UEFA Champions League game begins in Paris at 9 p.m., local time.
This is how that duration would be expressed in several key regions:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Wed, Apr 9 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Wed, Apr 9 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| UK | Wed, Apr 9 | 8:00 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Thu, Apr 10 | 6:00 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Thu, Apr 10 | 1:30 a.m. IST |
Paris Saint-Germain versus Aston Villa starting formations, latest updates
A significant duty is placed upon them. Lucas Beraldo as the replacement for suspended PSG captain Marquinhos .
Luis Enrique gave Ousmane Dembele a bit of rest over the weekend, but returns to the front three alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue
The only injury concern for PSG was Kang-in Lee , but he has returned to training made the bench.
PSG (4-3-3, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) - Hakimi, Beraldo, Pacho, Nuno Mendes - Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves - Doue, Demble, Kvaratskhelia.
PSG subs: Safonov (GK), Tenas (GK), Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Barcolo, Zaire-Emery, Mbaye.
Marcus Rashford starts up front for Aston Villa, with Ollie Watkins next to the loaned-in player from PSG Marco Asensio .
Ross Barkley ends up sitting on the bench after last playing in January because of a calf injury but Leon Bailey remains absent.
Pau Torres partners Ezri Konsa at centre-back, with Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans selected as the midfield two.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1, right to left): E. Martinez (Goalkeeper) - Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne - Kamara, Tielemans - McGinn, M. Rogers, Ramsey - Rashford.
Aston Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Proctor (GK), Mings, Disasi, Maatsen, Bogarde, Onana, Barkley, Asensio, Watkins.
PSG vs. Aston Villa live stream, TV channel
Below is the information on watching the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg match across various key regions globally:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | - | Paramount+ , ViX |
| Canada | - | DAZN |
| UK | TNT Sports 1 | discovery+ |
| Australia | - | Stan Sport |