AFCON 2025
Aston Villa faces a difficult task to overturn a two-goal deficit when they welcome PSG at Villa Park in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg.
Having lost the first leg 3-1 last week, Unai Emery’s men must score twice without conceding to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
PSG are looking to return to the semi-finals for the second consecutive season and are in pole position to do so.
However, Aston Villa has several factors they can ride on ahead of Tuesday night’s clash against PSG at Villa Park.
1. Aston Villa Strong home form
Aston Villa are undefeated at home in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Villians defeated Bayern Munich, Bologna, and Celtic at home while Juventus held them to a goalless draw. Unai Emery’s men have rubbed shoulders with some of Europe’s big team teams during the league phase of the competition and will tackle PSG heads-on in front of their home fans.
2. Lethal Attack
Aston Villa boasts of a quite lethal attack, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rodgers, Jacob Ramsey, Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, and Manchester United’s loanee Marcus Rashford all available for selection. Their only goal in the first leg shows they have what it takes to score one or more and push the game to extra time. Marco Asensio and Morgan Rodgers have seven goals in the competition and will look to score more on Tuesday.
3. Emery’s tactics and Villa Park atmosphere
These two factors can work in favor of Aston Villa. Unai Emery is a tactically sound coach, and he has been able to marshall his team against some of the best teams in Europe this season, including Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Emery is likely to set up in his preferred 4-2-3-1 with the likes of Malen, Rodgers, Watkins, and Rashford running relentlessly down the channels.
Aston Villa can also rely on their vociferous fans who make Villa Park hostile for visitors on European nights.
