A dramatic stoppage-time goal from Nuno Mendes handed Paris Saint-Germain a crucial advantage in their Champions League quarter-final tie against Aston Villa, with the Parisians sealing a 3-1 win in the first leg at the Parc des Princes.
For much of the match, Villa appeared set to head back to Villa Park with only a one-goal deficit to overcome. However, Mendes’ last-minute strike shattered any hopes of an upset, giving PSG a two-goal cushion to defend in the return leg.
The visitors stunned the French champions early on, with Morgan Rogers scoring a well-taken goal on 35 minutes. The winger latched onto Youri Tielemans’ superb left-wing delivery to slot home at the far post, sending Villa’s travelling supporters – including the Prince of Wales – into raptures.
Paris St-Germain responded swiftly, drawing level just four minutes later. Desire Doue unleashed an exquisite curling effort from 20 yards that left Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with no chance, finding the top corner of the net.
The home side came out after the break with renewed vigour, and it took only four minutes for them to go ahead. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG’s star Georgian winger, picked up the ball, twisted away from substitute Axel Disasi, and drilled a powerful shot past Martínez at his near post.
Martínez, whose controversial antics in the 2022 World Cup final still leave him unpopular in France, stood tall for Villa throughout, producing a string of fine saves, notably from Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi. However, he was left helpless in the dying seconds as Mendes capitalised on a defensive lapse, wrong-footing the Argentine keeper before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
Villa’s Hard-Fought Performance Ends in Heartbreak
Aston Villa’s supporters inside the Parc des Princes had every reason to believe they could pull off an unlikely result, particularly after McGinn’s vital interception led to Rogers’ first-half goal. The away fans, who had travelled in full force, were given a moment of joy when Rogers’ close-range strike put them ahead.
However, that lead was short-lived. Despite the occasional flashes of attacking brilliance, Villa were forced to spend the majority of the match weathering PSG’s attacking onslaught. Their resilience was admirable, particularly with Martínez standing firm to deny the likes of Dembélé and Hakimi.
As the game entered the final stages, Villa’s hopes of an equaliser looked promising, especially after the referee indicated four minutes of added time. The mood in the Villa camp was one of cautious optimism, believing a 2-1 scoreline could be overturned at Villa Park. But that hope evaporated in an instant as Mendes’ strike in the final moments left the Villa players collapsed on the turf, knowing the magnitude of the task that now lay ahead of them.
PSG’s Quality Shines Through
Paris Saint-Germain are beginning to truly believe that the Champions League could finally be within their grasp. Under the management of Luis Enrique, a coach with a proven pedigree from his time at Barcelona, the Parisians have moved away from their previous reliance on superstars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi.
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