Sports

Aston Villa Vs PSG, Champions League: Parisians Ward Off Gutsy Lions To Seal Semis Berth

Paris Saint-Germain staved off a gallant fightback by Aston Villa to reach the semi-finals of UEFA Champions League 2024-25 despite a 3-2 loss to the English club on Wednesday (April 16). Holding a 3-1 lead from the quarter-final's first leg, PSG built a four-goal cushion thanks to goals by full backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes inside 27 minutes at Villa Park. Villa, cheered on by Prince William, roared back thanks to a deflected shot before halftime by Youri Tielemans and then goals in a two-minute span from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa by the 57th. Only a string of brilliant stops from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Villa a fourth goal that would have taken the match to extra time.

Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

PSG's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and team mates applaud fans at the end of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa | Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, left, and Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England.

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UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
UEFA Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

Britain's Prince William and Prince George attend the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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UEFA Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

PSG's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma makes a save during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

PSG's Marquinhos celebrates with PSG's Willian Pacho at the end of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa | Photo; Nick Potts/PA via AP

Britain's Prince William, centre, and Prince George, top right, support Aston Villa during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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Germany Soccer Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
Germany Soccer Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford jumps over PSG's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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Germany Soccer Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
Germany Soccer Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

Aston Villa's Marco Asensio, left, challenges for the ball with PSG's Achraf Hakimi during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

PSG's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma grimaces after Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa scored his side's third goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg Soccer Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg Soccer Match: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans, right, celebrates with Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England.

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Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg Soccer Match: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg Soccer Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa | Photo: AP/Frank Augstein

PSG's Nuno Mendes scores his side's second goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at the Villa Park stadium, in Birmingham, England.

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Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain | Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

PSG's Achraf Hakimi, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham, England.

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Champions League: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa | Photo: AP/Matthias Schrader

Barcelona's goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, right, blocks a shot by Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, center, during the Champions League quarterfinals second leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, at the Signa-Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany.

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