A Champions League thriller against PSG

“Tonight, I think if you’re an Aston Villa fan, going home, you’re proud.”

Those were the words of John McGinn on the evening of April 15, 2025, in the immediate aftermath of one of the most thrilling matches Villa Park has witnessed for many a year.

What those Villa fans referenced by the captain had experienced, was a quite sensational UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final second-leg clash, which saw Unai Emery’s side push Paris Saint-Germain all the way, in their search for a Semi-Final spot.

A few hours earlier, the task of overturning a 5-1 aggregate deficit and winning the tie seemed a near impossible one, after early goals in B6 from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes has put PSG 2-0 ahead on the night after a 3-1 defeat in the first leg a week prior. 

But a remarkable comeback – while it wasn’t quite enough to stop the Parisians advancing to the last four – preserved Villa’s incredible record on home turf, and gave over 40,000 Villans in attendance a night of which stories would be told for years to come. 

Ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup meeting with Luis Enrique’s men, which will be only the third in history between the two sides, here is a look back on the previous two – which came 16 months ago during the memorable 2024/25 campaign…

An emphatic 6-1 aggregate win over Club Brugge in the Round of 16 had set up a mouth-watering meeting with the Ligue 1 champions – who themselves had overcome Liverpool in the last 16. It would be our maiden meeting with PSG, and to begin with, a first ever trip to the Parc des Princes.

Thousands of Villans descended on the French capital, soaking up the excitement of a first Quarter-Final clash in Europe’s premier competition since 1983. Two thousand of these were lucky enough to pack into the stadium, where the partisan home crowd ensured a hostile atmosphere would await Emery’s charges as they emerged for action.

But 10 minutes before half-time, Villa were in dreamland. Youri Tielemans sent a ball to the back post, and Morgan Rogers charged in to crash home, sending the visiting faithful euphoric. Aston Villa had travelled to the home of the competition favourites, and taken the lead.

Their advantage, however, was short lived. Six minutes before the break, the brilliant Désiré Doué bent a stunning effort into the top corner from the edge of the area to restore parity at the interval, before just four minutes into the second half, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck to turn the tie on its head.

Nuno Mendes’ impressive effort as the first leg ticked into second half stoppage time didn’t flatter the hosts, but equally felt like a tough one to take for a Villa side which had defended astutely for much of the second period, and given a strong account of themselves across the channel. Still, the tie wasn’t over.

A week later, it was the turn of those of a claret and blue persuasion to make life as difficult as possible for the visiting team. After all, as the majestic pre-match tifo display observed: This is Villa Park. The hosts’ task in overturning a 3-1 deficit from the first leg would not be an easy one, but they would – and did – give it everything they had.

Not least, when PSG took a 5-1 aggregate lead inside 27 minutes thanks to goals from Hakimi and Mendes, did Villa look all but done and dusted in B6. Only seven minutes later, however, when Tielemans’ deflected effort got them on the board in the second leg in front of The Holte End, did we discover Emery’s men wouldn’t be going down without a fight.

Having got themselves back to within three goals before half-time, Villa started the second period a completely different beast. Their leader, McGinn, surged from his own half 10 minutes after the restart to send what would be named the club’s Goal of the Season whistling into the top corner. 2-2 on the night.

Just two minutes later, and Villa Park’s roof was raised. Marcus Rashford showed sublime trickery to beat two players and pull back for Ezri Konsa, his England teammate calmly stroking into the bottom corner with the finesse of a seasoned forward to bring Villa back to within a goal of the Parisians.

Tielemans, Marco Asensio and Ian Maatsen all tested and stretched Gianluigi Donnarumma and his visiting rearguard as Emery’s men left everything out on the Villa Park field throughout the final half-hour, but Enrique’s side stated their credentials to go all the way in the competition, and gratefully saw out a narrow aggregate victory.

Enrique himself hailed Villa the “best team” his side had faced, declaring: “I don’t think that we have ever been dominated so much.”

Paris Saint-Germain, of course, would go on to lift the famous trophy that year, beating Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate in the Semi-Finals before a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Munich Final.

It was a seminal moment in the European domination that would follow for PSG, having claimed the coveted Champions League crown for the first time, but also for Villa, who had proved they could go toe to toe with Europe’s elite match them every step of the way, very nearly pulling off something remarkable.

It might not have resulted in progression to the Semi-Finals for Unai Emery’s men, but that night at Villa Park is one many Villans regard as the greatest match they have ever attended. If Wednesday’s Super Cup is anywhere near as unpredictable, eventful and exciting, then we are in for a real treat.

UTV! 💜