PSG 3-1 Aston Villa: PSG rally past Aston Villa with comeback win in Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to secure a hard-fought 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes.

The Ligue 1 champions were stunned early on by a Morgan Rogers opener, but responded in style with goals from Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes to take a strong advantage into next week's second leg in Birmingham.

Villa, entering the clash on a seven-game winning streak, took a shock lead after a midfield error by Mendes allowed John McGinn and Youri Tielemans to combine and set up Rogers for a cool finish. The goal silenced the home crowd, despite the raucous atmosphere and a cheeky “By order of the Paris SG fans” banner, a nod to Peaky Blinders and Villa’s Birmingham roots.

But PSG wasted no time restoring parity. Doué, the 19-year-old standout who netted the decisive penalty against Liverpool in the previous round, curled in a brilliant equalizer just four minutes later.

After the break, PSG turned the screw. Kvaratskhelia put the hosts ahead with a pinpoint finish off the inside of the post after a flowing move in midfield. Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, a pantomime villain in Paris, made several key saves throughout, including a superb stop to deny Achraf Hakimi on the counter.

Despite a disallowed goal and denied penalty appeal, PSG found their third in stoppage time. Nuno Mendes, making amends for his earlier error, cut inside Ezri Konsa and slotted home past Martínez to seal the win.

Villa will need a spirited response in the second leg at Villa Park on Tuesday to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

SportsLigue