VILLA PARK — There was no shame in this, with Aston Villa going down swinging as Paris Saint-Germain held on, just, to advance to the Champions League semi-finals after a memorable encounter.
Had it not been for the heroics of PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Villa could have levelled, but the visitors clung on, losing 3-2 on the night but ultimately benefiting from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes’ goals on the counter in the first half.
Villa’s mission meanwhile will somehow have to switch from almost achieving a famous comeback to ensuring they return to this competition next season.
Tuesday night will leave a lingering taste for it, too. Tasked with being the 12th man, Villa’s supporters brought the noise, channelling the attitude Morgan Rogers exuded and called for before this tie. It had been done before so why not tonight, was the thinking, with belief a far deadlier weapon than hope.
However, willed on by a crowd who had bizarrely just heard the Europa League anthem play out before the right tune was found, Villa started on the front foot and looked promising in the opening 10 minutes.
Another counter saw Mendes double PSG’s lead, but that was anything from tie over. Requiring four goals simply to force extra time, Tielemans restored a modicum of hope before the break, and shortly after a sensational looped effort from McGinn reduced the deficit once more.
More chances followed, Konsa somehow missing Rashford’s cross, Rogers firing over, Ian Maatsen’s shot blocked on the line, but there was to be no fourth that would take this match beyond 90 – much to PSG’s relief.
And so, having gone from once-in-a-generation stuff by simply reaching the Champions League, Villa subsequently proved that this is far from the end for them in this competition. It has lit a spark, reawakening something special in B6 that looks set to have lasting impact, whether they return next season or not.
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