PSG illustrated why they are one of the big favourites to win this year’s Champions League with an impressive 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the French capital.
Brilliant goals from Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes more than cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ opener for the visitors, who now have a mountain to climb if they are to make the last four.
Ahead of next week’s second leg, who can look back on Wednesday’s match with a smile and who needs to buck their ideas up?
PSG
Gianluuigi Donnarumma
Just about clawed one high ball off the head of Torres, but could do nothing to stop Rogers beating him and smashed his hand in frustration. 6/10
Archraf Hakimi
Caused Villa a threat going forwards, but his desire to attack sometimes left him with a problem with Rashford on the counter attack. Had a goal disallowed. 6/10
Lucas Beraldo
Came in for the suspended Marquinhos, who was watching in the stands. Did nothing wrong, but Marquinhos will come back in for the second leg. 6/10
Willian Pacho
The PSG defender will be annoyed that he did not walk off the pitch with a clean sheet, given his team’s dominance on the ball. 6/10
Nuno Mendes
Robbed by McGinn for Villa’s opening goal. The expression on the face of Mendes told its own story as Rogers celebrated. 5/10
Joao Neves
Not as spectacular to watch as many of his team-mates, but kept things ticking over nicely and rarely lost the ball. 7/10
Vitinha
The former Wolves man is PSG’s midfielder conductor. He had one shot saved and placed another one over the crossbar. 7/10
Fabian Ruiz
Played a fantastic pass out to Kvaratskhelia to set up the goal from which PSG took an early second half lead. 7/10
Desire Doue
Doue was wanted by Chelsea and you could see why. His goal, which dipped under the crossbar, after holding off Rogers was simply superb 8/10
Ousmane Dembele
PSG’s leading goalscorer fired an early shot over the bar, but was a constant threat to the Villa defence. 7/10
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The man nicknamed ‘Kvaradona’ was almost impossible for Villa to handle and he scored a wonderful goal to put PSG ahead. 9/10
Substitutes
Warren Zaire-Emery (on for Ruiz, 72) 6
Bradeley Barcola (on for Doue, 72) 6
Subs not used: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Mbaye.
Aston Villa
Emi Martinez
Loudly booed from the warm-up to the final whistle. Made a couple of big saves, but could do nothing to stop Doue and Kvaratskhelia scoring. 6/10
Matty Cash
Had the hardest job on the pitch trying to look after Kvaratskhelia and had to walk a tightrope after being booked in the 17th minute. Replaced by Disasi at half-time. 5/10
Ezri Konsa
Calm, cool and collected as ever. England manager Thomas Tuchel was in the crowd and would have been impressed. 6/10
Pau Torres
Preferred to Tyrone Mings, Torres was picked for his ability with the ball at his feet but he spent most of his time trying to keep PSG out. 7/10
Lucas Digne
Struggled with the pace of Doue, who he fouled in a dangerous position in the first half. It was a tough night for Villa full-backs. 5/10
Boubacar Kamara
The Frenchman dropped into defence when Villa were out of possession, which was for the majority of the game. Made some big interceptions. 7/10
Youri Tielemans
The Belgian provided the cross from which Rogers scored, picking his team-mate out brilliantly with a low ball across the box. 7/10
Morgan Rogers
What a moment for Rogers when he arrived at the back post to give Villa the lead. His development since joining the club has been remarkable. 7/10
John McGinn
Villa’s captain has gone from the Championship to the Champions League with the club and did superbly for Rogers’ goal. Covered so much ground. 8/10
Jacob Ramsey
Needed treatment after getting a kick. Dribbled his way out of a few tight spaces, but could not get close to the PSG goal. 6/10
Marcus Rashford
Rashford knocked PSG out of the Champions League in 2019. He had a hand in Rogers’ goal and posed a threat with his pace. 6/10
Substitutes
Axel Disasi (on for Cash, 46)
Sent on to save Cash getting sent off, but had just as many problems with Kvaratskhelia and Co. Might have done better for Kvaratskhelia’s goal. 5/10
Marco Asensio (on for Ramsey, 59)
Given just over half-an-hour against his parent club. Almost picked out Kamara with one lobbed pass. 6/10
Ollie Watkins (on for Rashford, 80) 6
Amadou Onana (on for Tielemans, 80) 6
Ian Maatsen (on for McGinn, 80) 6
Subs not used: Olsen, Proctor, Mings, Bogarde, Barkley.
PSG illustrated why they are one of the big favourites to win this year’s Champions League with an impressive 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the French capital.
Brilliant goals from Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes more than cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ opener for the visitors, who now have a mountain to climb if they are to make the last four.
Ahead of next week’s second leg, who can look back on Wednesday’s match with a smile and who needs to buck their ideas up?
PSG
Gianluuigi Donnarumma
Just about clawed one high ball off the head of Torres, but could do nothing to stop Rogers beating him and smashed his hand in frustration. 6/10
Archraf Hakimi
Caused Villa a threat going forwards, but his desire to attack sometimes left him with a problem with Rashford on the counter attack. Had a goal disallowed. 6/10
Lucas Beraldo
Came in for the suspended Marquinhos, who was watching in the stands. Did nothing wrong, but Marquinhos will come back in for the second leg. 6/10
Willian Pacho
The PSG defender will be annoyed that he did not walk off the pitch with a clean sheet, given his team’s dominance on the ball. 6/10
Nuno Mendes
Robbed by McGinn for Villa’s opening goal. The expression on the face of Mendes told its own story as Rogers celebrated. 5/10
Joao Neves
Not as spectacular to watch as many of his team-mates, but kept things ticking over nicely and rarely lost the ball. 7/10
Vitinha
The former Wolves man is PSG’s midfielder conductor. He had one shot saved and placed another one over the crossbar. 7/10
Fabian Ruiz
Played a fantastic pass out to Kvaratskhelia to set up the goal from which PSG took an early second half lead. 7/10
Desire Doue
Doue was wanted by Chelsea and you could see why. His goal, which dipped under the crossbar, after holding off Rogers was simply superb 8/10
Ousmane Dembele
PSG’s leading goalscorer fired an early shot over the bar, but was a constant threat to the Villa defence. 7/10
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The man nicknamed ‘Kvaradona’ was almost impossible for Villa to handle and he scored a wonderful goal to put PSG ahead. 9/10
Substitutes
Warren Zaire-Emery (on for Ruiz, 72) 6
Bradeley Barcola (on for Doue, 72) 6
Subs not used: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Mbaye.
Aston Villa
Emi Martinez
Loudly booed from the warm-up to the final whistle. Made a couple of big saves, but could do nothing to stop Doue and Kvaratskhelia scoring. 6/10
Matty Cash
Had the hardest job on the pitch trying to look after Kvaratskhelia and had to walk a tightrope after being booked in the 17th minute. Replaced by Disasi at half-time. 5/10
Ezri Konsa
Calm, cool and collected as ever. England manager Thomas Tuchel was in the crowd and would have been impressed. 6/10
Pau Torres
Preferred to Tyrone Mings, Torres was picked for his ability with the ball at his feet but he spent most of his time trying to keep PSG out. 7/10
Lucas Digne
Struggled with the pace of Doue, who he fouled in a dangerous position in the first half. It was a tough night for Villa full-backs. 5/10
Boubacar Kamara
The Frenchman dropped into defence when Villa were out of possession, which was for the majority of the game. Made some big interceptions. 7/10
Youri Tielemans
The Belgian provided the cross from which Rogers scored, picking his team-mate out brilliantly with a low ball across the box. 7/10
Morgan Rogers
What a moment for Rogers when he arrived at the back post to give Villa the lead. His development since joining the club has been remarkable. 7/10
John McGinn
Villa’s captain has gone from the Championship to the Champions League with the club and did superbly for Rogers’ goal. Covered so much ground. 8/10
Jacob Ramsey
Needed treatment after getting a kick. Dribbled his way out of a few tight spaces, but could not get close to the PSG goal. 6/10
Marcus Rashford
Rashford knocked PSG out of the Champions League in 2019. He had a hand in Rogers’ goal and posed a threat with his pace. 6/10
Substitutes
Axel Disasi (on for Cash, 46)
Sent on to save Cash getting sent off, but had just as many problems with Kvaratskhelia and Co. Might have done better for Kvaratskhelia’s goal. 5/10
Marco Asensio (on for Ramsey, 59)
Given just over half-an-hour against his parent club. Almost picked out Kamara with one lobbed pass. 6/10
Ollie Watkins (on for Rashford, 80) 6
Amadou Onana (on for Tielemans, 80) 6
Ian Maatsen (on for McGinn, 80) 6
Subs not used: Olsen, Proctor, Mings, Bogarde, Barkley.
