French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) inflicted a 3-1 defeat upon Premier League outfit Aston Villa at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night, April 9.
Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes found the back of the net as Les Parisiens came from behind to claim a thrilling win over the Villans.
PSG 3-1 Aston Villa: Luis Enrique’s Men Impress in Comeback UCL Victory
Luis Enrique’s PSG started brightly, piling pressure on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the opening minutes. However, it was the visitors who struck first, with Morgan Rogers tapping in Youri Tielemans’s delivery at the far post 10 minutes before half-time.
The goal jolted PSG awake, and they restored parity through a sensational strike from young Desire Doue in the 39th minute. Following a PSG corner, Doue got on the ball on the left of the box, cut inside, and fired at goal from outside the box. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stood rooted to the spot as the ball touched the underside of the crossbar and went in.
PSG got their go-ahead goal in the 49th minute, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia supplying the magic this time around. The former Napoli forward dashed down the left flank, turned Axel Disasi inside out, and dispatched a thumping strike from a narrow angle with his left foot. Hit with ferocity, the ball zipped past Martinez and crashed against the roof of the Villa net.
🚨🇬🇪 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (24) wins MOTM for his performance vs Aston Villa! pic.twitter.com/hCUccdlykb
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 9, 2025
PSG left back Nuno Mendes scored the insurance goal in the second minute of injury time, applying a finish any striker would be proud of. Latching onto Ousmane Dembele’s through ball, the Portuguese defender entered the box from the left side, beat Ezri Konsa with a clever dummy, and slotted the ball home with his right foot.
With a two-goal advantage to their name, PSG are now the overwhelming favourites to reach the UCL semi-finals.
Continue reading to explore PSG player ratings vs Aston Villa.
PSG Player Ratings vs Aston Villa (3-1)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):
The Italian goalkeeper did not have much to do as Aston Villa rarely entered the PSG box. He conceded one goal and made a save.
Achraf Hakimi (7/10):
Captain Achraf Hakimi had a solid game against Villa. He completed 79 passes with 91% accuracy, created a chance, made three clearances, and recorded four recoveries.
Lucas Beraldo (7/10):
Lucas Beraldo had a good game against Aston Villa. He made two interceptions, won two ground duels, and registered three recoveries. The Brazilian was also quite active up top, slipping 15 passes into the final third and testing Emiliano Martinez with a long-range effort.
Willian Pacho (7/10):
While Beraldo pushed forward, Willian Pacho held the fort at the back. He made three recoveries, completed two clearances, and showed his superiority in aerial duels, winning three of four.
Nuno Mendes (8/10):
Nuno Mendes made a costly mistake that led to Aston Villa’s goal. However, much to his credit, he did not let the mistake define his night. He bounced back with aplomb, scoring an excellent goal, making seven recoveries, and completing five clearances.
Nuno Mendes in his last three Champions League games:
▪️ Held Mo Salah without a goal contribution in both legs
▪️ Had the highest rating across PSG's back line in both legs vs. Liverpool
▪️ Goal and assist vs. Aston VillaAbsolute baller 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/3gPHV84ECm
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 9, 2025
Joao Neves (7.5/10):
Joan Neves was nearly flawless on the ball in the UCL quarter-finals, completing 91 of 93 passes. The 20-year-old also shared the defensive load, making seven recoveries and winning two tackles.
Vitinha (8.5/10):
Vitinha was pretty much at the heart of every positive passage of play on Wednesday night. The metronome completed a game-high 148 passes with 97% accuracy, created three chances, and played 15 passes into the final third.
Fabian Ruiz (7.5/10):
Fabian Ruiz could not threaten the Aston Villa backline in the UCL quarter-final first leg, but he did an excellent job at bringing his team-mates into the fold. He created a couple of chances, delivered three accurate long balls, and made four recoveries.
Desire Doue (8.5/10):
Only 19, Desire Doue delivered a masterclass in the Champions League. He scored a world-class goal, created three chances, and completed 40 passes with 89% accuracy. He also helped out at the back, winning two tackles and making three recoveries.
This kid is special, Desire Doue. pic.twitter.com/e80DW4ZnC6
— TC (@totalcristiano) April 9, 2025
Ousmane Dembele (8.5/10):
Ousmane Dembele served as PSG’s creator-in-chief on Wednesday. He played a slide-rule pass to assist Mendes, created a game-high nine chances, and took four shots. The Frenchman also completed a couple of dribbles and won three duels.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (9/10):
The Georgian left winger was the Man of the Match against Aston Villa. He scored a blinder of a goal, created five chances, completed four dribbles, and sprayed four accurate long balls. It could not have gone any better for the 24-year-old attacker.
🚨 UCL KO GOALS FOR PSG:
Messi: 0
Kvaratskhelia: 2Kvara joined in January and Messi was there for 2 years 😭 pic.twitter.com/B7VsBzlYTu
— fan (@NoodleHairCR7) April 9, 2025
Substitutes
Warren Zaire-Emery (72′) (6.5/10): Completed 18 passes with 100% accuracy and made three recoveries.
Bradley Barcola (72′) (6.5/10): Created a couple of chances and completed 17 passes with 89% accuracy.
Goncalo Ramos (90′): No impact.