PSG Survive Aston Villa Scare to Reach Semis (2025)
Paris Saint-Germain edged past Aston Villa in a dramatic quarter-final clash to book their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Despite entering the tie as clear favorites, PSG were pushed to the limit by a resilient Villa side that refused to back down.
The second leg, held at Parc des Princes, ended in a tense 2-2 draw, giving PSG a 4-3 aggregate win after their narrow victory in Birmingham. Aston Villa stunned the Paris crowd early with a goal from Ollie Watkins, putting the English club ahead and threatening an upset. However, Kylian Mbappé responded swiftly, equalizing with a powerful strike.
Villa regained hope with a second-half goal from Moussa Diaby, but PSG showed their experience and composure. A late goal from Vitinha calmed Parisian nerves and sealed their progression to the final four.
Luis Enrique praised his squad’s mental toughness, acknowledging the danger Aston Villa posed. “They gave us a real fight,” he said. “We had to dig deep.”
With the semi-finals now in sight, PSG remain focused on their dream of lifting Europe’s most coveted trophy — but they’ll know from this close call that no opponent can be taken lightly.
