Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates with captain Achraf Hakimi after scoring PSG’s second aim in opposition to Aston Villa (Thibaud MORITZ)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored one of many nice Champions League objectives as Paris Saint-Germain got here from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1 within the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday.
Morgan Rogers had given Villa a Thirty fifth-minute lead on the Parc des Princes to silence the house followers, however PSG had been rapidly again stage by a high quality strike by Want Doue.
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Kvaratskhelia then took centre stage with a surprising strike on 49 minutes, earlier than Nuno Mendes added an important third in stoppage time, giving PSG a big two-goal cushion to take into the return in Birmingham subsequent Tuesday.
Having eradicated Liverpool within the final 16, Luis Enrique’s crew are actually in a really sturdy place to go on and attain the semi-finals for the second season operating.
Villa, who had Prince William within the Paris crowd backing them alongside together with his son George, might want to produce a memorable fightback at house if they’re to make the final 4 of Europe’s elite membership competitors for the primary time since they lifted the trophy in 1982.
Nonetheless, they’ll maybe take inspiration from what occurred the final time their coach Unai Emery confronted Luis Enrique within the Champions League.
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Again in 2017, Emery’s PSG thumped Barcelona 4-0 at house within the first leg of a last-16 tie, solely to break down on the Camp Nou and lose 6-1 to Luis Enrique’s Catalans.
The latter, now hoping to steer PSG to their first Champions League crown, was with out suspended skipper Marquinhos right here and in addition left Bradley Barcola on the bench for the primary time on this European marketing campaign.
That meant Doue and Kvaratskhelia accomplished the house assault together with 32-goal main scorer Ousmane Dembele.
Villa got here into this sport on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions, as Marco Asensio, on mortgage from PSG, was named in its place in opposition to his dad or mum membership.
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The guests had been comfortable to defend in numbers and the primary half happened virtually solely of their half, with Dembele setting the tone from a scorching early strike which was tipped over by Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentinian goalkeeper, a hero for his nation within the 2022 World Cup remaining in opposition to France, was loudly jeered all through by the house followers and had a busy evening.
– Villa strike first –
Nonetheless, Villa snatched the lead in opposition to the run of play within the Thirty fifth minute.
Captain John McGinn robbed Mendes simply contained in the Villa half and picked out Marcus Rashford on the left. He then slipped in Youri Tielemans whose ball throughout the face of aim left Rogers with a straightforward end for his 14th aim this season.
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PSG hit again rapidly although, with Martinez practically spilling a Doue shot over the road earlier than the equaliser got here from the nook which adopted.
The hosts labored the ball from proper to left to Doue, who stepped in the direction of the penalty space earlier than curling a high quality strike past Martinez into the far nook.
It was the newest second of magic from the 19-year-old, who just lately received his first cap for France, however his strike was eclipsed by that of Kvaratskhelia because the Georgian put PSG forward 4 minutes after half-time.
Emery had changed Matty Money at half-time with the right-back having been booked for a foul on Kvaratskhelia.
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Axel Disasi got here on however had no reply as Kvaratskhelia was launched on the left by Fabian Ruiz and superior into the field.
The previous Napoli winger mesmerised Disasi as he rolled his studs over the ball earlier than smashing a shot previous Martinez, in off the close to submit.
Villa despatched on a raft of substitutes together with Asensio as they tried to discover a means again into the sport, whereas Achraf Hakimi had an effort disallowed for the hosts.
Dembele then launched Mendes to make it 3-1 in stoppage time and depart PSG with one foot within the semi-finals.
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