By Ian King
PSG’s season-long good kind
PSG seemed as robust as they’ve all season in profitable the primary leg 3-1 final week. They’ve dropped simply ten factors all season and have already been topped champions in Ligue 1, the place they continue to be unbeaten, and have received their final 9 league matches in a row. Their solely shaky patch got here within the League Part of this competitors, after they misplaced three video games. Villa have been patchy between January and February, however they’ve received their final 4 Premier League matches in a row and completed above PSG again in that massive group stage, profitable 5 and dropping two.
Historical past recap
The primary leg between these two sides was their first assembly in a aggressive match. Villa have solely performed French opposition in Europe as soon as earlier than, drawing 0-0 in Bordeaux earlier than profitable the return match 1-0 within the 1997/98 UEFA Cup First Spherical. The final time Villa performed on this competitors got here in 1982/83, when as holders they reached the quarter-finals earlier than dropping over two legs to Juventus, dropping 2-1 at Villa Park 3-1 in Turin within the second leg.
Key Gamers
Morgan Rogers scored the Villa aim in Paris, and he has felt a bit of beneath the radar for a lot of this season. However his affect in attacking positions is big, and whereas Ollie Watkins stays prime scorer, Rogers has a broader remit as a participant. That isn’t to understate his aim contribution, both; he’s scored 14 in all competitions to date this season, only one fewer than Watkins.
PSG have ended their Galacticos impersonation spell and within the course of have constructed one thing much more resilient-looking. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is a captivating instance of their smarter switch enterprise insurance policies. At 26 years outdated, he’s made 400 membership appearances in all competitions, whereas he additionally already has 72 Italy caps. On the different finish, Ousmane Dembélé has scored 32 in 41 matches, an unimaginable restoration from the wretched time he had in his later years at Barcelona.
Group Information
Villa’s solely absentee is Leon Bailey. He’s on the way in which again, however received’t be in time for this match. Adjustments from Saturday are sure. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Donyell Malen have been rested however then referred to as off the bench to attain at Southampton. Ominously, PSG needs to be even stronger this time, with their captain Marquinhos returning after having missed the primary leg by suspension. Lucas Beraldo will possible make means for him.
Prediction
Aston Villa have been excellent on this 12 months’s Champions League. Beating Bayern Munich 1-0, as that they had 43 years earlier, will reside lengthy within the reminiscences of supporters. However being totally pragmatic about issues, it’s tough to see previous one other PSG win. They’ve been doing issues in a different way, and it’s actually beginning to bear fruit. An early Villa aim may shake issues up – let’s see what they’re product of, and all that – however you continue to need to favour one other PSG win. Maybe 2-1, to utterly mirror Villa’s 1983 European Cup exit.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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