Previewing PSG vs Aston Villa: Predictions, Lineups, and Team Insights

Opening their Champions League quarter-final with a midweek clash at Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will vie for a first-leg lead on Wednesday evening.
Over two legs, they meet for the first time in European competition, with either Real Madrid or Arsenal awaiting the winner in this season’s final four.
Despite suffering a rare home defeat in Paris, PSG ultimately prevailed in their last-16 contest with Liverpool, winning 4-1 on penalties after pulling off a second-leg success at Anfield to level the tie.
The English champions-elect were twice denied by the giant frame of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during a dramatic shootout, while the Ligue 1 side netted all four spot-kicks to advance into the quarter-finals of Europe’s top club competition.
That continued a journey that started rather shakily in the league phase, as Luis Enrique’s youthful squad, which has the youngest average starting XI still standing in this season’s Champions League, struggled to even reach the playoffs.
Once there, they dispatched compatriots Brest with some ease, smashing the Breton side 10-0 on aggregate, before beating league-phase top dogs Liverpool with a stylish triumph over two legs.
PSG’s sole loss across their last 29 games came in the first leg of that tie, and Saturday’s league win over Angers duly wrapped up another French title with six games to spare: Desire Doue’s second-half strike confirmed his club’s customary domestic crown, also keeping them on track for an ‘invincible’ campaign.
The capital club remains on course to go through the entire top-flight season unbeaten, with 23 wins and five draws from 28 matches so far – and they will try to complete a successful defence of the Coupe de France when meeting Reims in next month’s final.
Beaten by Borussia Dortmund in last season’s semis – and Bayern Munich in the 2020 decider – PSG’s focus is now fixed on taking the final steps toward lifting the elusive Champions League trophy.
Led by a familiar face, Aston Villa will be the fourth English team they have played in this season’s extended edition – following Arsenal, Manchester City, and, of course, Liverpool – as the clubs clash for the very first time.
A proven master of knockout football, who has claimed 10 trophies as a manager so far, he more recently led the Birmingham club back into UEFA’s top competition for the first time in four decades, before compiling an impressive set of results in this season’s league phase.
Seeing off Bayern Munich at Villa Park was a particular highlight, as Villa automatically qualified for the last 16 by claiming a cherished top-eight place, and they then beat Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate in their first knockout tie.
That success came shortly after the 1982 European champions had endured a worrying lull in the Premier League, but they have since been back to their best, with winter signings such as Marcus Rashford and PSG-owned Marco Asensio to the fore.
Having seen off third-placed Nottingham Forest at the weekend, posting a seventh straight win across all competitions, the Villans are in with a good chance of qualifying for Europe again – and they also have an upcoming FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
So, they are only two wins away from a first major domestic trophy for 29 years, as well as being one of just eight clubs still challenging for the Champions League.
However, Emery has won only two of 10 games against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Aston Villa are set to face off in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening. This matchup marks the first time these two clubs are meeting in European competition, with the winner likely to encounter either Real Madrid or Arsenal in the semi-finals.

PSG, despite experiencing a rare loss at home earlier this season, managed to advance past Liverpool in the last 16, winning a dramatic penalty shootout 4-1 after leveling the tie with a strong second leg at Anfield. During that shootout, Liverpool was thwarted by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, while PSG converted all their penalties, showcasing their resilience in the knockout stages.

As they continue their campaign, not only are they defending their Coupe de France title in next month’s final against Reims, but they also remain focused on overcoming past disappointments in the Champions League. Having been knocked out by Borussia Dortmund in last year’s semi-finals and Bayern Munich in the 2020 final, PSG is eager to finally lift the elusive trophy.

Aston Villa, led by their experienced manager, will be the fourth English side that PSG has faced this season, following Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Villa have made a remarkable return to UEFA’s top competition for the first time in 40 years and have had impressive performances, including a notable win against Bayern Munich at Villa Park. They automatically qualified for the last 16 by securing a top-eight league finish and thrashed Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate in the first knockout round.

Yet, despite their success, manager Unai Emery has only managed to win two out of ten encounters against Luis Enrique, but he has those two victories at home. Their most memorable clash took place during the 2016-17 season when Enrique’s Barcelona staged an incredible comeback from four goals down to eliminate Emery’s PSG with a stunning 6-1 victory in the second leg.