Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: Unibet

Starting their Champions League quarterfinal with a midweek showdown at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will battle for the upper hand in Wednesday’s first leg.

This marks the first-ever European meeting between the two clubs, and with a coveted semifinal spot on the line, either Real Madrid or Arsenal will lie in wait for the victor over two legs.

Paris Saint-Germain

Despite suffering a rare home defeat in the first leg, Paris Saint-Germain held their nerve to eliminate Liverpool in the last 16, triumphing 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a gritty second-leg win at Anfield brought the tie level. Gianluigi Donnarumma proved the hero with two saves, while all four PSG takers converted from the spot to seal a memorable comeback.

Their Champions League journey, which began on shaky ground during the league phase, has gathered momentum with each round. After struggling to secure a playoff spot, Luis Enrique’s vibrant young side breezed past Brest 10-0 on aggregate before taking down league-phase leaders Liverpool with flair and resilience.

Now unbeaten in 28 of their last 29 matches across all competitions – the only blemish being that home loss to Liverpool – PSG further underlined their dominance with a 1-0 win over Angers at the weekend, sealing yet another Ligue 1 crown with six games to spare. That result also kept them on track to complete an invincible league campaign, having won 23 and drawn five of their 28 fixtures.

A Coupe de final against Reims also looms large, but the elusive Champions League title remains the ultimate prize. With recent exits at the hands of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich still fresh in the memory, PSG are now aiming to go one step further, starting with their first-ever European clash against Aston Villa – the fourth English opponent they will have faced in this campaign.

Team News

Only Lee Kang-in is currently out injured for the Parisians, though captain Marquinhos is suspended for the first leg. However, several key names who were rested at the weekend – including Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembele – are set to return.

Dembele, in particular, has hit top form in Europe, scoring seven goals in his last six Champions League outings – more than he managed in his previous 36 combined – and will likely spearhead PSG’s front three alongside Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Aston Villa

Returning to familiar territory, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery takes his in-form side to Parc des Princes on Wednesday, where he once led PSG to domestic dominance between 2016 and 2018, claiming a Ligue 1 title and four domestic cups during his tenure.

Now at the helm of a resurgent Villa side, Emery – renowned for his knockout expertise and 10-trophy haul – has guided the club back into the Champions League for the first time in over 40 years and masterminded an impressive campaign to date. A notable highlight was their group-stage triumph over Bayern Munich, which helped secure automatic progression to the last 16, where they made light work of Club Brugge with a 6-1 aggregate win.

That continental success coincided with a brief dip in league form, but Villa have since returned to their best, racking up a seven-game winning run across all competitions, including a 2-1 triumph over third-placed Nottingham Forest last weekend. With momentum on their side, they remain firmly in the hunt for another European spot via the Premier League, while also looking ahead to an FA Cup semi-final as they chase a first major domestic honour since 1996.

Despite his tactical pedigree, Emery has a modest record against PSG coach Luis Enrique, winning just two of their 10 prior meetings – both on home soil. Their most infamous encounter came during Emery’s PSG days in the 2016-17 Champions League, when Enrique’s Barcelona mounted a jaw-dropping 6-1 comeback to eliminate the French club after trailing 4-0 from the first leg.

History is also not on Villa’s side when it comes to French soil, where they have yet to win a European game, suffering recent defeats to Lille and Monaco. But as ever, Emery relishes the underdog role – and with confidence soaring and a near-full squad available, the Villans won’t be short of belief as they aim to spring another surprise.

Team News

Winter arrivals Marcus Rashford and PSG loanee Marco Asensio have both had an instant impact. The latter – who failed to find the net in 10 Champions League games for his parent club – now boasts three goals from just two substitute appearances in Europe for Villa and eight goals from 11 matches overall since his January move. Asensio is pushing for a starting berth in a front line that could also feature Rashford or Ollie Watkins.

Options abound in attack, with Donyell Malen and Morgan Rogers also vying for minutes after scoring on Saturday. Leon Bailey is nearing full fitness but remains doubtful, while Ross Barkley is the only definite absentee for the trip to Paris. However, Emery is expected to welcome back key figures such as Ezri Konsa, skipper John McGinn, and midfield engine Boubacar Kamara to the starting XI.

Conclusion

Despite Enrique shedding the “favourites” label ahead of this game, PSG will likely grab an advantage to take into the second leg at Villa Park. However, the visitors will surely be motivated to get at least one on the scoreboard themselves.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: Unibet