Aston Villa’s heroic Champions League comeback fell short as they lost 5-4 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite a costly early error from Emiliano Martinez, Villa fought back with goals from Tielemans, McGinn, and Konsa, but PSG's Donnarumma denied them a place in the semi-finals.
Aston Villa came heartbreakingly close to an unforgettable Champions League comeback, narrowly losing 5-4 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final. Villa won 3-2 on the night, but a costly error from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez early in the match proved to be decisive.
The game started poorly for Villa as a mix-up between Martinez and Pau Torres allowed Achraf Hakimi to score in the 11th minute. Moments later, Nuno Mendes doubled PSG's lead, leaving Villa with an uphill battle. However, Villa’s resilience shone through, with Youri Tielemans scoring just before the break after a deflected shot, and John McGinn pulling one back in the second half with a superb curling strike.
Villa Park erupted when Ezri Konsa netted Villa's third, narrowing the aggregate score. The hosts piled on the pressure, with Marcus Rashford, Tielemans, and substitute Marco Asensio coming close to further goals. Despite their dominance, PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma produced key saves to keep his side in front, including denying Asensio’s late shot.
Ultimately, Villa's valiant effort wasn’t enough as PSG held on to progress to the semi-finals. Manager Unai Emery’s tactical choices and his team’s fighting spirit earned praise despite the agonizing defeat.
