Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain: UEFA

Table of Contents

Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain: Aston Villa will host Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on April 10, 2025, at Villa Park. Unai Emery’s side has been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, and they will look to make the most of their home advantage against a star-studded PSG team.

Paris Saint-Germain, led by Luis Enrique, enters the match as favorites. With a lethal attacking trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Bradley Barcola, the French giants will aim to secure an early lead before the second leg in Paris.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa will rely on their solid defensive structure and quick counter-attacks, with key players like Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans, and Emiliano Martínez playing crucial roles.

This clash promises to be an exciting battle between Villa’s tactical discipline and PSG’s attacking brilliance.

Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain: Match Preview

Aston Villa has shown resilience throughout the tournament under Unai Emery. Their success has been built on a solid defensive foundation, with Emiliano Martínez providing security in goal and the center-back duo of Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings offering stability.

In midfield, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans will be tasked with breaking PSG’s passing rhythm. Villa’s attacking play will rely on the creativity of John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, and Marcus Rashford, while Ollie Watkins will lead the line, hoping to capitalize on PSG’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Tactics and Key Players

PSG boasts one of the most dangerous attacks in Europe. Luis Enrique’s side will look to control possession and use their pace on the wings to break down Villa’s defense. The trio of Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, and Barcola will be crucial in creating scoring opportunities.

Defensively, PSG will rely on Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, with Milan Škriniar and Lucas Beraldo tasked with handling Watkins. The midfield trio of Manuel Ugarte, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Vitinha will play a crucial role in maintaining possession and dictating the game’s tempo.

Predicted Lineups for Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez
Defenders: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne
Midfielders: Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans
Attacking Midfielders: Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Marcus Rashford
Forward: Ollie Watkins

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Milan Škriniar, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Key Battles to Watch

Ollie Watkins vs PSG’s Defense

Watkins has the pace and movement to trouble PSG’s backline. If Villa can create chances for him, he could be a decisive factor in the match.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia vs Matty Cash

Kvaratskhelia’s dribbling ability and vision will be a huge test for Cash, who will need to stay disciplined defensively.

Emiliano Martínez vs PSG’s Attack

Martínez has a reputation for delivering in big games. With PSG’s attacking trio posing a major threat, the Argentine goalkeeper will need to be at his best.

Dream11 Prediction for Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain

Fantasy football fans will be looking to pick a balanced team for this quarterfinal clash. Here’s a Dream11 team prediction while keeping the correct player positions in mind.

Dream11 Team Selection (4-4-2 Formation)

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa) – A top performer in crucial matches.
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Milan Škriniar (PSG), Nuno Mendes (PSG) – A combination of attacking and defensive full-backs with solid center-backs.
Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa) – Playmakers and goal contributors.
Forwards: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – The main attacking threats for both teams.

Captain & Vice-Captain Choices

Captain: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) – A key player in PSG’s attack, capable of scoring and assisting.
Vice-Captain: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa) – His performance will be crucial in determining the match outcome.

If Aston Villa is to cause an upset, it will need to be defensively compact and take its chances on the counterattack. PSG, on the other hand, will look to dominate possession and use its attacking firepower to secure a first-leg advantage.

For Dream11 fantasy players, selecting a well-balanced team with key contributors from both sides will be essential for success. With a high-stakes battle ahead, this quarterfinal promises to be an entertaining contest at Villa Park.