Aston Villa vs PSG (agg: 4-5) LIVE RESULT: Heartbreak for heroic hosts as they fight back but can’t complete comeback
HEROIC Aston Villa came close but could not quite complete a dramatic Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa's players walked out to raucous noise at Villa Park, with a huge tifo and Price William and George making themselves heard for a massive game.
But Unai Emery's side conceded two early goals to find themselves 5-1 down on aggregate against the Ligue 1 champions and staring at an exit.
Youri Tielemans then scored to give the hosts hope before John McGinn and Ezri Konsa scored to leave Villa needing just a goal and PSG seriously wobbling.
Villa piled on the pressure - Ian Maatsen having a goal-bound effort cleared off the line - but PSG managed to hold on to earn their place in the semi-final, where they play the winner of Real Madrid and Arsenal.
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Aston Villa heartwarming interview
Aston Villa star Matty Cash shared a heartwarming moment with his sister after his side were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.
Just like last week, Matty was interviewed by his sister Hannah, who is a reporter for CBS Sports, after the second leg.
She asked the full-back if he was proud of their effort and to describe the energy on the pitch when Villa scored twice in three minutes shortly after half-time to go ahead.
And once again the siblings finished the interview by telling each other "I love you."
Heartwarming moment Matty Cash's reporter sister tells him she loves him after Aston Villa's PSG defeatEmery's stunning home record
Aston Villa crashed out of the Champions League with their head held high as they came back to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 at Villa Park in the quarter-finals.
Villa boss Unai Emery has only lost one of his 14 home matches in major European competitions since the 2022-23 campaign.
That one defeat was against Olympiacos last season in the Europa Conference League semi-finals' first leg.
The Villans lost 4-2 to Jose Luis Mendilibar's side, who also won the second leg in Greece with a score of 1-0 before lifting the trophy in the final against Fiorentina.
Emery has won 12 and drawn home matches one along the way.
Why Prince William supports Villa
Prince William first fell in love with Aston Villa after being taken to a match by friends as a boy.
The heir said he was gripped by the “sense of belonging” and the passion of his fellow football fans.
Wills also revealed he visits fan forums anonymously online — and moves his kids around when watching at home to bring the team luck.
Villa's royal heartbreak
Prince William and George were left heartbroken after they watched Aston Villa narrowly drop out of the Champions League.
The royal pair watched through 90 minutes of ecstasy and turmoil against Paris Saint-Germain.
Prince George donned a half-and-half scarf as he played with his hands nervously pre-game.
The Prince of Wales was also seen with a drink in his hand as he stood in the hospitality box at the packed out stadium.
Nervous Prince William & George watch crunch Villa Champions League clashUnai Emery reacts
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will work with his players on the "last step forward", which he claims is what cost his team qualification in the Champions League semi-finals.
I am very proud of everything we did.
To get to this level is the best step forward to get to where I want to be at with Aston Villa.
We competed well in the first leg, but not enough. We were even better today and close to coming back.
The last step forward is still [missing], and this is the only [aspect] I want to [work on] for our process.
Unai EmeryMore from Rooney
United's top scorer added: "Marcus Rashford wants to play for Manchester United, 100 per cent.
"He's a Manchester lad, a Manchester United fan.
"He needed to play and it was clear he wasn't going to play for the rest of the season.
"Sometimes, you have to put the manager in a position where he cannot leave you out.
"Marcus Rashford, in an ideal world, would want to play and leave a legacy at Manchester United.
"Whether that's possible, I don't know, but that's what I'd love to see."
Credit: Getty Rooney Message
Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney sent a message to Marcus Rashford after his brilliant showing against PSG.
The loanee provided a brilliant assist and was unlucky not to score after a couple of fine saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Rooney, who was on pundit duties for Amazon Prime, said: "I hope Rashford goes back to Manchester United and performs like he did tonight.
"That’s what we all want to see as Manchester United fans."
Extra! Read all about it!
Let's take you right back to the drama, the glory and the agony of Aston Villa's memorable Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG with David Kidd's match report; the 3-2 comeback victory on the night wasn't quite enough to stop them from crashing out of the competition.
Defeat has rarely been so glorious, elimination rarely soundtracked with such fervour and miracles rarely so tantalisingly close. Aston Villa’s great European adventure is over, but it ended in appropriate fashion with a ferocious fightback and a cacophony of Brummie noise.
David Kidd
Ambitious Villa prepare for run-in
Unai Emery and his players have been quick to reiterate that they want more Champions League nights at Villa Park, starting with next season.
Villa currently sit seventh in the Premier League, but just three points off Nottingham Forest in third.
With England set for five Champions League places, the run-in shaping up to be a frantic one.
Emery's team still have to play European-chasing rivals Newcastle, Man City, Fulham, Bournemouth before ending with games against Tottenham (home) and Manchester United (away).
It is all up for grabs, and that's before you throw in the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace in the middle.
Reborn Rashford revelling at Villa
Aston Villa's spark in the second half coincided with Marcus Rashford taking it up a notch.
The Manchester United loanee brilliantly set-up Ezri Konsa's goal by leaving two PSG players for dead on the right wing.
Since making his Villa debut in February, no Premier League player has provided more assists across all competitions than Rashford (5).
And when asked about the forward after the game, Unai Emery hinted that he would love to make the temporary move permanent.
"It is difficult to plan it now," the Villa boss revealed.
"He is feeling better and he played a fantastic match. We are very happy. If he is happy, we are happy. It depends on the circumstances for now and the next weeks."
Roared on at fortress Villa Park
Aston Villa may have come up agonisingly short in their quarter-final quest with PSG, but by fighting back to win on the night they did at least extend their unbeaten home record in front of a raucous crowd.
Unai Emery's team are now undefeated at Villa Park in 18 games across all competitions (W12 D6). It is their longest run without losing on home soil since a run of 20 games between April 1990 and February 1991.
- D2-2 v Crystal Palace (PL, Nov 23)
- D0-0 v Juventus (CL, Nov 27)
- W3-1 v Brentford (PL, Dec 4)
- W1-0 v Southampton (PL, Dec 7)
- W2-1 v Man City (PL, Dec 21)
- D2-2 v Brighton (PL, Dec 30)
- W2-1 v Leicester (PL, Jan 4)
- W2-1 v West Ham (FAC3, Jan 10)
- D1-1 v West Ham (PL, Jan 26)
- W4-2 v Celtic (CL, Jan 29)
- W2-1 v Tottenham (FAC4, Feb 9)
- D1-1 v Ipswich (PL, Feb 15)
- D2-2 v Liverpool (PL, Feb 19)
- W2-1 v Chelsea (PL, Feb 22)
- W2-0 v Cardiff (FAC5, Feb 28)
- W3-0 v Club Brugge (CL, Mar 12)
- W2-1 v Nott'm Forest (PL, Apr 5)
- W3-2 v PSG (CL, Apr 15)
Wills' Villa Torment
Prince William and George have been left heartbroken after they watched Aston Villa narrowly drop out of the Champions League.
The royal pair watched through 90 minutes of ecstasy and turmoil as they saw PSG score twice early on before Unai Emery's side pulled back three goals.
Terrific Tielemans shines for Villa
Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans is having a season to remember.
The midfielder has been a mainstay of the midfield this campaign, and leads the way for all kinds of club statistics.
His deflected strike tonight dragged Villa back into the tie, and made it 13 goal involvements in all competitions this term (four goals and nine assists).
It is the Belgian's best tally in a single season since 15 for Leicester in 2020-21 (nine goals and six assists).
Proud Emery thanks the fans
Unai Emery says he has more to achieve at Aston Villa.
In his two-and-a-half years in charge, the Spaniard has taken the club from the Premier League relegation zone to the Champions League quarter-finals.
And reflecting on a dramatic night at Villa Park, Emery suggested he still wanted to reward the Villa fans, who have been so crucial to this season's European success.
I am very proud of everything. Getting to this level is the next step forward, I want to try to win with Aston Villa. We played two legs, we competed well and it wasn't even. Today we competed better and we were close to the result. I want to try to work for my next process at Aston Villa. The crowd was fantastic, they gave us energy - even at 2-0. Still, a little bit more to do better to try to get it.
Unai Emery
How a crazy night unravelled
Ignoring the fact that the second PSG goal graphic has been placed incorrectly, here's the Opta momentum graph that shows how this topsy-turvy Champions League classic played out.
The hosts enjoyed great spells of dominance either side of half-time, but appeared to lose their way late on after John McGinn and Marcus Rashford were substituted, with PSG content to play the clock out.
Barca join PSG in semis
In the night's other quarter-final, Barcelona staved off a brave Borussia Dortmund fightback to book their place in the last four.
Four-nil down from the first leg, the Bundesliga side struck either side of half-time through Serhou Guirassy.
Guirassy completed his hat-trick late on, but only after a Ramy Bensebaini's own goal gave Barca breathing space.
Champions League semi-finals
- Barcelona v Inter or Bayern Munich
- Real Madrid or Arsenal v PSG
PSG skipper feels this is their year
Captain Marquinhos believes there is a different mindset about this group of Paris Saint-Germain players.
The Brazilian revealed that even when the French team were forced back against the wall in the second half, their belief carried them through.
After years of close calls, the positivity among the squad is also the reason why Marquinhos thinks this year will be when PSG finally crack the Champions League.
We knew it was going to be a difficult game. We had belief, we kept our intensity and we believed until the end we were going to go through. It is such a difficult competition but we are getting better and better and we are proving we are good team. There is belief that we can go all the way and win it this year.
Marquinhos
Villa's Champions League dream ends
Former European Cup winners, Aston Villa's inaugural season in the Champions League comes to an end.
The Villians have been an excellent addition to the competition, winning eight of their 12 matches across the campaign.
- W3-0 v Young Boys (A, Sept 17)
- W1-0 v Bayern Munich (H, Oct 2)
- W2-0 v Bologna (H, Oct 22)
- L1-0 v Club Brugge (A, Nov 6)
- D0-0 v Juventus (H, Nov 27)
- W3-2 v RB Leipzig (A, Dec 10)
- L1-0 v Monaco (A, Jan 21)
- W4-2 v Celtic (H, Jan 29)
- W3-1 v Club Brugge (A, Mar 4)
- W3-0 v Club Brugge (H, Mar 12)
- L3-1 v PSG (A, Apr 9)
- W3-2 v PSG (H, Apr 15)
Ezri: Early goals killed us
Ezri Konsa felt his team left themselves too much of an uphill task after conceding two early goals in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Strikes from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes in the opening 27 minutes at Villa Park left Unai Emery's team 5-1 down on aggregate.
Yet a stirring comeback almost saw Villa achieve the impossible, and Konsa was quick to point out the pride that the Premier League side are feeling despite elimination.
I'm very proud of the boys and what we did tonight. The two goals at the start killed us but we showed great belief and character to get back into it. We won the second leg but it wasn't enough. At half-time we felt we had nothing to lose. We wanted to go out there and prove a point. I don't think we could have done any more. We showed tonight we can compete at the highest level and we want to do it again next season.
Ezri Konsa
Match stats from Villa Park
In what was their first ever Champions League campaign, Aston Villa have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage, winning eight of their 12 games (D1 L3).
No side has ever won more matches in their debut campaign in the competition (also 8 wins for Lazio and Valencia in 1999-00).
From Graeme Bryce at Villa Park
Aston Villa's Champions League dream is over - but boy did they go down fighting!
Only a hat-trick of heartbreaking second half saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma prevented Unai Emery's battlers from pulling off a sensational comeback.
And Ezri Konsa, already a goalscorer, will curse his luck that he didn't flick his forehead at the right time to connect with a header with the goal at his mercy.
It was brave, it was thrilling and it was oh, so close.
But Willian Pacho somehow blocked Ian Maatsen's netbound volley in stoppage time - as Unai Emery hit the deck in frustration.
PSG may well go on to win the trophy they want more than any other.
But they are unlikely to work harder than they were forced to against valiant Villa.
Sadly, Prince William won't be knighting any of his Villa heroes ….. this season.
Full time - Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (Agg: 4-5)
The final whistle is blown (far too early).
Aston Villa are down, Aston Villa are out, but Aston Villa can be proud of their efforts this evening.
An astonishing night's football at Villa Park has seen Unai Emery's team rise from the ashes to win the game but not the tie.
Four goals behind at one point, Villa rallied and at the start of the second half came within a whisker of levelling the contest.
Yet it was not to be, and these home fans will go home heartbroken but with the best memories of a brilliant Champions League campaign.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (Agg: 4-5)
90+3. Maatsen on the volley! Blocked brilliantly by Pacho!
Cash does brilliantly to wrestle free on the right wing and then clips over a terrific cross that falls kindly for the left back.
Maatsen's strike is superb, caught so, so sweetly, and is destined for the bottom corner until Pacho gets over to intervene.
The Ecuadorian defender has just seen his team into the Champions League semi-final with that defending.
Aston Villa 3-2 PSG (Agg: 4-5)
90. The board goes up to show a paltry three minutes.
Frankly, that is a joke.