After losing the 1st leg to Liverpool 1-0 in Paris in one of the most dominant losses I’ve ever seen, PSG defied the odds and knocked Liverpool out an Anfield.
The Parisians have really impressed this season under Luis Enrique. They have a very balanced, young squad spearheaded with attacking talent including the on-fire Ousmane Dembele who has bagged 26 goals in 2025.
Villa are having yet another solid season under Unai Emery, sitting 6th in the league, just 2 points off a UCL spot. They have had a great UCL campaign, brushing aside a solid Club Brugge side 6-1 on aggregate.
Villa have rotated their starting RB a lot this season, with Cash, Garcia, Konsa and even Disasi all featuring semi-frequently there. Matty Cash appears to be the main man when Emery has a full squad to choose from, starting 5 of the last 6 UCL games. Of those 5 games, he started RB in 4, and landed 2+ fouls in 3, the other occasion he got injured in the first half and his sub committed 2.
He is up against the tricky Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has drawn an average of 2.29 fouls per 90 in his last 50 games. I expect PSG to dominate possession in this 1st leg, and Khvicha is the real creative spark so should see plenty of the ball. PSG will also have Nuno Mendes down the left who is no stranger to taking one for the team, being fouled 1.3p90.
Simple plan of attack here – shithousery. Emi Martinez is undoubtedly the king of goalkeeping shithousery. If Villa survive the first half onslaught, you best believe Emi will be at it. Obviously very punty, but if we make it to HT, it has a real chance. Embrace the dark arts!