PSG & Barcelona reach Champions League semi-finals
FT: Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (4-5 agg) - Villa come from 2-0 down to win on night but PSG edge through
FT: Dortmund 3-1 Barcelona (3-5 agg) - Barca through despite Guirassy hat-trick on night
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST, agg 1-3)
Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
The best young player in the Premier League this season. He's been a shining light. I've enjoyed watching him.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
BBC Sounds
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Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Villa Park
We're having a downpour at Villa Park but that is not bothering many of the PSG fans, who have their shirts off as they bounce up and down in their section.
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Sam Huxley
BBC Radio 5 Live at Villa Park
The atmosphere outside Villa Park is electric, but inside it's been the away fans making the most noise so far. The pocket of PSG ultras have been bouncing up and down since 7pm. No surprise they're in high spirits after last week's performance...
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Stephen Warnock
Former Aston Villa defender on MOTD: UEFA Champions League
The biggest concern is that Ollie Watkins will be hoping that it's not over by the time he gets his opportunity.
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Julien Laurens
European football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live
I don't want to be the guy who burst the bubble of Villa fans, but I think they have to be very good tonight.
They have to dominate the midfield where they were outplayed in Paris.
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
8 years and 364 days ago Villa were relegated on my wedding day. Hopefully on my 9th wedding anniversary I can find out who we are playing in the Champions League Semi-Final, however optimistic that might be!
Ben
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST, agg 1-3)
Nim Gill
Aston Villa fan on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's astronomically a massive night for the Villa.
With this team, the tactician Unai Emery and at Villa Park we're certainly not out. We believe. PSG are the favourites, and the fanbase is very positive - we believe we are going to win tonight.
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesFrench football journalist Raphael Jucobin:
"In the first half of the season [Desire] Doue was a little underwhelming given his reputation as the future golden boy of French football that had been built up beforehand, and the transfer fee.
"Luis Enrique took a little time to figure out his options for a front three. He had a few players put shifts in as a false nine. Doue was used there but it was not his best position.
"It wasn’t until he came on against Salzburg in the last half hour and he scored and got an assist that it took off. That was the start of the form we’re seeing now.
"It is was good management from Luis Enrique as he tried to bleed him into the set-up."
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer
When Desire Doue walked off slowly and disconsolately after only 64 minutes at Arsenal in October, the teenager touted as French football's next golden boy looked alone and out of his depth.
Fast forward six months - with a potential Champions League semi-final reunion with the Gunners a growing possibility - and Paris St-Germain's brilliant young forward has captured the imagination of Europe.
For someone whose name translates to 'desire gifted' in English, the 19-year-old has lived up to that billing since putting the false start behind him in spectacular fashion.
Doue's day of disappointment came in a 2-0 loss at Emirates Stadium in the tournament's new league table format.
Since then, he has matured into a central piece in the new PSG assembled by coach Luis Enrique, performing superbly when Manchester City were beaten 4-2 at Parc des Princes in January, then delivering a brilliant cameo as a substitute before scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout win at Anfield in the last 16.
And, in his most mesmerising display yet, he scored a stunning curling equaliser while running Aston Villa ragged in PSG's captivating 3-1 win in the quarter-final first leg.
Read more about Angers-born Doue here.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
As we have seen from his stints at Villarreal, Sevilla, and now Aston Villa, Unai Emery knows what he's doing when it comes to European football.
He won the Europa League in three successive seasons with Sevilla and once with Villarreal after also guiding Arsenal to the final, where they lost to Chelsea.
As Villa boss, Emery, 53, has only lost one of his 13 home matches in major European competitions, winning 11 of those.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
The fans will play their part at the start of the game. They will create the atmosphere and then it's down to the players.
Image source, Getty Images#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Jake: So surprised Ollie Watkins is not starting for Villa - thought he’d be a certainty after the weekend.
Mike: I'm not a Villa fan, but hoping they can find a way. But how on earth is Watkins not starting?
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST, agg 1-3)
Nim Gill
Aston Villa fan on BBC Radio 5 Live
That third goal was a kick in our face.
With 2-1 it was a lot more achievable, but it’s 2-0 and we're at half-time.
At Villa Park, with Watkins, Rashford, Rogers, Martinez and the master tactician Unai on the side we believe anything is possible.
We have to chase the game. Whether we go all out from the beginning or grow into the game it’s going to be interesting to see how Unai sets his team up.
PSG can catch us out - they’re very slick and fast going forward.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Thomas Hitzlsperger say's Villa must keep their discipline to have a hope of going through to the semi-finals tonight.
Thomas Hitzlsperger say's Villa must keep their discipline
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to Amazon Prime: "We are motivated and we are excited.
"We are in a really good momentum in the season. We are trying to get our best today and trying to get every energy.
"We have to try to play as best as possible. Now is the moment to watch the game.
"Every player is ready and every player has to be focused."
On Ollie Watkins: "Every player is ready and every player has their qualities. We try focus on the gameplan."
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Villa Park
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has just come out to warm up and has been giving the fist pumps to The Holte End as the atmosphere builds.
Fair to say the reception from the PSG fans, who are already here packing their section of Villa Park, was not quite as warm.
Martinez was public enemy number one in Parc des Princes last week after his antics during the penalty shoot-out when Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar.
Aston Villa v PSG (20:00 BST)
Sam Huxley
BBC Radio 5 Live at Villa Park
They'll put anyone in the programme these days! Only joking, Dion...
The men behind the mics tonight. BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent John Murray & ex-Villan Dion Dublin.
Catch them on 5 Live & BBC Sounds!
Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona (agg 0-4, 20:00 BST)
Despite the scoreline, the Signal Iduna Park will be rocking later.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesBorussia Dortmund v Barcelona (agg 0-4, 20:00 BST)
Borussia Dortmund are winless in their three home games against Barcelona in European competition, drawing two and losing one.
The two sides have already met in the Champions League this season, with Hansi Flick's coming out on top in a 3-2 win in December.
Barca could become the first side to win away to Dortmund more than once in the same European campaign.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 21 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| |
| 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 15 |
| |
| 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| |
14 PSV | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| |
16 Benfica | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| |
18 Brest | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 13 |
|
19 Feyenoord | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 13 |
|
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 12 |
| |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 11 |
| |
23 Sporting CP | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
|
24 Club Brugge | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 11 |
|
25 Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 11 |
|
26 Stuttgart | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 10 |
|
27 Shakhtar Donetsk | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 7 |
|
28 Bologna | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 6 |
|
29 Red Star Belgrade | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 6 |
|
30 Sturm Graz | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 6 |
|
31 Sparta Prague | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
|
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 3 |
| |
33 Girona | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 |
|
34 Red Bull Salzburg | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 27 | -22 | 3 |
|
35 Slovan Bratislava | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 27 | -20 | 0 |
|
36 Young Boys | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 24 | -21 | 0 |
|
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Luis Enrique
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Luis Enrique
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
UEFA Champions League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Aston Villa have lost three of their four games against French sides in European competition under Unai Emery, with all three of those defeats coming in succession (1-2 v Lille, 0-1 v Monaco, and 1-3 v Paris SG). Their one victory did come in the only one of these four played at Villa Park, however, beating Lille 2-1 in April 2024 (UEFA Conference League).
Of the seven previous occasions when Paris SG have won the first leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie by 2+ goals, the French side have been eliminated on three occasions. Should they fail to progress here, they’ll have been eliminated from more European Cup/UEFA Champions League knockout stage ties having had a 2+ goal lead from the first leg than any other team (4).
Aston Villa’s defeat against Paris SG in the reverse fixture was the third time they’ve lost by 2+ goals in the first leg of a knockout stage tie in major European competition, while they failed to progress in each of the previous two instances (on aggregate: 1-5 v Royal Antwerp in 1975-76 in the UEFA Cup and 2-6 v Olympiakos last season in the UEFA Conference League).
Paris SG have only won four of their 17 away games against English teams in European competition (D4 L9). One of those victories did come in the most recent one (1-0 v Liverpool in March), however, ending a run of four straight defeats in such fixtures.
Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has only lost one of his 13 home matches in major European competition as a manager, while winning 11 of them (D1). His only defeat in this run came in May 2024 against Olympiakos (2-4 in the UEFA Conference League semi-final, first leg).
Paris SG have averaged 11.2 high turnovers per game in the UEFA Champions League this season; their most in a single edition on record (since 2012-13). They’ve also recorded 36 shot-ending high turnovers in 2024-25, which is more than they had in the previous three editions combined (28).
Paris SG have four different players who’ve been directly involved in 5+ goals in the UEFA Champions League this season, in Ousmane Dembélé (9), Achraf Hakimi (6), Bradley Barcola (6) and Désiré Doué (5). They’ve never previously had more players do so in a single edition, while they have three players currently on four goal involvements (Gonçalo Ramos, Fabián Ruiz, and Nuno Mendes).
Morgan Rogers has been directly involved in six goals for Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League this season (four goals, two assists). Only two English players aged under-23 have ever had more goal involvements in a single edition of the competition: Jude Bellingham (9) and Bukayo Saka (8), both in 2023-24.
Paris SG midfielder João Neves has applied more high-intensity pressures than any other midfielder in the UEFA Champions League this season (651), while his 42 tackles are the most by a midfielder in a single edition of the competition since Real Madrid’s Casemiro in 2017-18 (45).
Youri Tielemans leads all Aston Villa players in the UEFA Champions League this season for passes completed (534) and line-breaking passes (104), as well as possession recoveries (45) and tackles (19).
