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
HT: Aston Villa 1-2 PSG (agg 2-5)
Stephen Warnock
Former Aston Villa defender on MOTD: UEFA Champions League
Image source, ReutersThe first goal doesn't help.
Marcus Rashford losing it in a higher position and then the transition, but you have got to get back into position quicker.
Matty Cash is ball-watching and Bradley Barcola is on his shoulder, he needed to drop into that back four.
Then a poor error from Emi Martinez.
HT: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
Barcelona faced seven shots on target in the first half, that's the joint-most they have faced in a Champions League first half since Opta began collecting this data.
The chances are there for Dortmund but they've got to make them count in the second half.
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
One thing I like about this PSG team, it's not just that they're excellent but they actually play entertaining football. Not the slow, dull robotic football we've got used to over the last few years.
Jon
Shame, but Rashford not able to be clinical tonight. Have to wonder if he’s able to lead a line like this anymore? Maybe a shift out to the wing would suit him.
Danny, Brittany
Currently inside Villa park, credit where credit is due all you can hear is the PSG fans!
Lewis, Villa fan
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
That's all for the first half. Dortmund lead but they need something special in the second half.
Image source, Getty ImagesHT: Aston Villa 1-2 PSG (agg 2-5)
Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesThat hill is getting steeper and steeper for Aston Villa.They had their bubble burst by two really good goals.
Aston Villa will still believe, but the way PSG are playing with the energy and organisation - it's amazing to watch live.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
We're one minute into two minutes of added time.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
Have to say that Dortmund have defended really well in this first half. Barcelona have grown into it in an attacking sense but the hosts have coped well.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
Karim Ademeyi beats three Barcelona players before spinning in the box to get on to his left foot but he curls an effort well wide.
Should have been looking to pass it there.
Aston Villa 1-2 (agg 2-5) PSG
There's the whistle.
Not the half Aston Villa fans and players would've dreamt about last night.
Image source, Getty ImagesBorussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
Brilliant stuff on the right wing from Dortmund as Maximilian Beier runs into the box but he's short of help and Ronald Araujo does well to cut out the cross.
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Really need to bring off Rashford and McGinn at half-time. Rashford is very ineffective and lacking belief, McGinn is completely out of his depth at this level!
Sam, Kent
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa 1-2 (agg 2-5) PSG
Couple of minutes left of this half as Achraf Hakimi sends a deep ball over the top of the Aston Villa defence for Ousmane Dembele but the winger is just offside.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
Robert Lewandowski goes down holding his cheek after an aerial challenge with Ramy Bensebaini.
Didn't look as though there was much in that.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
Huge chance for Barcelona to put this one to bed but Jules Kounde tries to control the ball just yards from goal but it doesn't stick.
Just guide it in first time!
Aston Villa 1-2 (agg 2-5) PSG
John McGinn goes into the book for a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Aston Villa 1-2 (agg 2-5) PSG
Pau Torres picks up the ball in the box and looks to pass rather than shoot but it seems like a missed opportunity.
Lucas Digne whips one across the box but it misses everyone.
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
As a Liverpool fan, I just love watching PSG play. Aston Villa were never going to be in this tie. The movement and precision of pass is second to none.
Derek, Preston
This PSG team is the most complete team I have seen all season. Beat Liverpool, beat Villa and will beat Arsenal too.
Chris
The way this PSG team is playing reminds of the Arsenal of last two years. As an Arsenal fan I was hoping to get PSG rather than Villa in the semis if we go through. However it looks like a tough tie watching them over the last two games.
Sanket, Buckhurst Hill
Aston Villa 1-2 (agg 2-5) PSG
Paris St Germain commit bodies forward and they look dangerous on the break every time they do that.
Passing and moving at pace.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-4)
You feel as though Dortmund need another before half-time to really start putting some doubt in Barcelona's minds.
Just as I say that, Karim Adeyemi races through at an angle but Wojciech Szczesny saves well.
Aston Villa 1-2 (agg 2-5) PSG
Image source, EPAThis is still an incredibly difficult task for Aston Villa.
But they're on the board and that has given the fans something to shout about.
| 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).
