Paris Saint-Germain staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s stunning strike taking center stage.
Aston Villa, cheered on by Prince William and his son George from the stands, took an unexpected lead in the 35th minute when Morgan Rogers finished a well-worked move. However, PSG responded almost immediately, with Desire Doue curling home an equalizer.
The second half saw Kvaratskhelia score one of the most memorable goals of the season. Picking up the ball on the left, the Georgian forward mesmerized Villa’s defense, firing a shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez into the near post. Nuno Mendes added a crucial third in stoppage time, giving PSG a two-goal advantage heading into the return leg in Birmingham next Tuesday.
Luis Enrique’s side, fresh off their win over Liverpool in the last 16, are now in a strong position to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive season. Villa, who have not reached the semi-finals since their 1982 triumph, will need to produce a remarkable comeback to progress.
Despite their advantage, PSG’s task was far from easy. The visitors had defended well for much of the match and were determined to remain in the contest, with Martinez making several key saves. However, Kvaratskhelia’s brilliance and PSG’s relentless attack proved too much for Villa in the end.
This victory could serve as a significant step in PSG’s quest for their first-ever Champions League trophy, as they head into the second leg with the upper hand. However, Villa will hope history repeats itself in their bid to overturn the deficit, remembering the miraculous comeback of 2017 when Unai Emery’s PSG collapsed against Barcelona after a 4-0 first-leg win.
