Aston Villa bowed out of this season's UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage despite a courageous second-leg showing at home to Paris Saint-Germain, who narrowly prevailed 5-4 on aggregate.
Despite falling two goals down inside the opening half-hour at Villa Park, Unai Emery's side showed spirit and desire to spin the game on its head, Youri Tielemans' deflected strike halving the deficit on the night 11 minutes before the break.
Two goals in the space of three chaotic second-half minutes from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa as the hour mark approached gave the Villans hope, bringing them to within just one goal of the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions on aggregate.
But despite throwing all they could at their visitors, it wasn't to be for Emery's men as their unforgettable European campaign drew to a close.
Here are seven talking points from another memorable night in B6...
This is Villa Park
Our B6 home yet again set the scene for what was to be another memorable European night under the lights.
The pre-match display – as it has on every Champions League occasion this season – delivered with aplomb. Villa Park was a celebration and a culmination of all things claret and blue, as a breathtaking tifo banner reading ‘This is Villa Park’ fell down over the Holte End.
Fireworks and pyrotechnics were released around the ground, as as the home supporters basked in the tunes of ‘Hi Ho Aston Villa’ and ‘Yippie Aye Yay, Yippie Aye Oh’ once more.
Youri in front of the Holte End
Villa wrestled their way back into the second leg with 34 minutes on the clock, as Youri Tielemans’ effort deflected off Willian Pacho and in to get his side on the board.
The Holte End erupted, as the home faithful again had hope Emery’s men could pull off something remarkable, having now seen their side net in both legs.
A second Champions League goal of the campaign for the Belgian, who added to the list of unforgettable European moments at Villa Park during this incredible season.
Ginny's peach restores parity on the night
At 2-0 down on the night and 5-1 down on aggregate, Emery’s players had two options: fight or flight.
Their intentions were pretty clear when Tielemans dragged them back within three goals in the tie before the break, before McGinn reduced the arrears further within 10 minutes of the restart.
His third goal in this season’s Champions League and arguably his best, as he drove through the retreating PSG rearguard and let fly from the edge of the area, seeing his effort take the slightest nick again off Pacho to help it sail into the top corner. Villa were firmly back in business.
Ezri makes Villa Park erupt
And if you thought the decibel levels were raised when Ginny got his goal, then it was about to get a whole lot louder just two minutes later, when Konsa sent Villa Park into pandemonium.
Sublime trickery from Marcus Rashford on the right-hand side put the ball on a plate for his England team-mate, who notched his first Champions League goal in style by calmly stroking it into the bottom corner.
All of a sudden, in the space of three minutes, Villa had gone from 5-2 down to now within one goal of taking the tie to extra-time.
It wasn’t to be in the end, but Konsa’s assured finish had us all believing and had the Villa Park atmosphere bubbling to a sensational climax.
Ross returns
A welcome sight for the home faithful in B6 was Ross Barkley’s long-awaited return from injury.
The midfielder made his first appearance in over three months on Tuesday night, replacing Youri Tielemans with two minutes of normal time to play.
Having not featured since January’s FA Cup third round win over West Ham which kickstarted Villa’s campaign in that particular competition, Barkley is now back in time for the semi-final and will be hoping to help guide his side to glory.
Proud of the pride
Champions League nights at Villa Park have just continued to deliver this season, and Tuesday was no different. If Emery’s men were to be exiting the competition, they wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Two goals inside the opening 28 minutes from PSG gave Villa a mountain to climb in the tie, at 5-1 down on aggregate, but they roared back and fought like lions until the very end, in their quest for only a second semi-final in the history of this competition.
To go toe-to-toe with a side many tip to go all the way and lift the famous trophy this time around was never going to be an easy task, but the Villans certainly did themselves and their fanbase proud.
All good things must come to an end, however, and after a run which has brought some simply unforgettable moments both in B6 and across Europe, Villa’s Champions League campaign is now over.
From a historic victory over Bayern Munich to an incredible night at home to Celtic and a magnificent round of 16 triumph against Club Brugge, Villa have shown they can mix it with the big boys.
This season has given everyone a taste, eating at Europe’s top table once more, and it would be fair to say we’ve enjoyed it. Until next time, UCL.
Domestic focus
Now our Champions League journey has reached its conclusion, sole attention turns to domestic matters, in the Premier League and FA Cup.
With the Villans currently sat just three points behind third place in the Premier League table with six games to go, Emery and his players are well in the race for another run in Europe’s elite competition next season.
And, with an FA Cup semi-final clash with Crystal Palace to come at Wembley a week on Saturday, there is still an opportunity for Emery’s men to lift silverware and go down in Aston Villa folklore.
For one final time this season: Up the EuroVilla. 💜
