PSG Edge Through After Surviving Villa’s Furious Fightback
First-Half Brilliance, Second-Half Nerves
Paris Saint-Germain held off a thrilling Aston Villa comeback to progress to the Champions League semi-finals, advancing 5-4 on aggregate despite a dramatic 3-2 defeat in Birmingham. Early goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes seemed to have killed the tie by the half-hour mark, adding to PSG’s 3-1 first-leg cushion. But Villa’s relentless second-half surge had the French giants on the ropes.
Youri Tielemans gave the hosts hope just before the break, and then two quickfire strikes from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa brought Villa within touching distance of a historic upset. PSG, rattled and retreating, relied on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics in goal to avoid another infamous Champions League meltdown.
Luis Enrique’s tactical gambles, including starting Bradley Barcola over Desire Doue, paid off early—but the second half revealed lingering frailties. Despite the nervy finish, PSG held on, booking back-to-back semi-final appearances and keeping their dream of a first European crown alive.
Villa’s European Revival Ends in Agony
Unai Emery’s men may have bowed out, but they exited with heads high after delivering a performance full of heart, intensity, and tactical bravery. With Villa Park bouncing and Prince William and son George among the impassioned home fans, the energy reached fever pitch.
Emery’s surprise inclusion of Marcus Rashford—on loan from Manchester United—nearly swung the tie further, with the England forward instrumental in Konsa’s goal and a constant threat. Despite their best efforts, Villa couldn’t find the one goal needed to force extra time, and their remarkable European run ended just short of the final four.
Still, for a side tasting top-tier continental football for the first time since 1983, this campaign marked a monumental leap forward.
Barcelona Suffer, But Sneak Into Semi-Finals
Dortmund Dominate, But Barça Escape
Barcelona’s unbeaten run in 2025 was snapped in brutal fashion with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, but the 5-3 aggregate result was just enough to carry them into the Champions League semi-finals. Hansi Flick’s side were second best all night, overrun by Dortmund’s high-octane pressing and relentless energy at Signal Iduna Park.
Serhou Guirassy struck a stunning hat-trick, starting with an early penalty after Wojciech Szczesny fouled Pascal Gross. A corner in the second half brought his second, and a defensive error from Ronald Araujo gifted him a third. Dortmund’s aggression nearly forced extra time, but a fortunate own goal by Ramy Bensebaini from a Fermín López cross proved to be the lifeline Barcelona desperately needed.
Barça never found rhythm without Pedri in the starting XI, and only his introduction midway through the second half restored calm amid the chaos.
Lessons Learned in the Cauldron
The match exposed cracks in Barça’s composure and control under pressure. The absence of their young midfield maestro was glaring, and the front three delivered one of their poorest displays of the season. Flick’s side relied on Szczesny to bail them out on several occasions and will count themselves fortunate to still be in the tournament.
Julian Brandt had a late goal ruled out for offside that could have taken the tie to the brink, but Barcelona held on in the end. Despite the defeat, the bigger picture remains bright: the Catalans are back among Europe’s elite four for the first time in six years, and they’ll have a shot at redemption in the semi-finals—likely against a surging PSG.
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