Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Luis Enrique and his Paris Saint-Germain are chasing the treble this season as the dominant side of French football take on an excellent Aston Villa at the Parc des Princes this week.
Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 9th April, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Paris Saint-Germain Preview: Perfect Parisiens
Paris Saint-Germain were crowned French champions at the weekend as they edged past Angers by a goal to nil in the French capital courtesy of a 55th minute Desire Doue strike. With six games of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 campaign to go, they are yet to lose domestically.
Their domestic perfection was on show last week as they came from 2-0 down to defeat Ligue 2 side Dunkerque by four goals to two in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France and, just like he did with Barcelona in 2015, Luis Enrique is on for another treble.
Aston Villa Preview: Villains of the piece
Unai Emery has been a master at getting what many would describe as middle-to-large clubs through to the latter stages of European competitions with four UEFA Europa League titles to his name as well as several other European finals and semi-finals throughout his career.
He is now looking for another European semi-final with the Villains in excellent form at the moment, most recently defeating Nottingham Forest by two goals to one at Villa Park at the weekend to make it seven successive victories across all competitions for the Villains.
Paris Saint-Germain Team News: Marquinhos suspended
PSG do have one key absentee for this week's visit of Aston Villa as Brazil international centre-back Marquinhos is sidelined for this one due to suspension, whilst Lee Kang-in is also a doubt due to an ankle injury. Desire Doue is in good form but remains unlikely to push himself into the starting eleven just yet.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Beraldo, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola
Unavailable: Marquinhos (Suspended)
Questionable: Lee (Injured)
Aston Villa Team News: Hitting on the counter
Despite returning to training, Ross Barkley is expected to remain unavailable for Villa this weekend, whilst Leon Bailey also remains a doubt due to a knock. They will seek to hit the Parisiens on the counter-attack with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey and Marcus Rashford.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Ramsey; Rashford
Unavailable: Barkley (Injured)
Questionable: Bailey (Injured)
Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa Prediction
Paris Saint-Germain have been relentless and high-scoring throughout the campaign with the reason for their stodgy display at the weekend more due to rest and rotation ahead of this one. Unai Emery is a coach you would back to be able to limit the strengths of an opposition’s attack but perhaps their best performances this season have come in more open games whereby they have been able to, with speed and slickness, stretch teams on the counter-attack. Paris Saint-Germain remain favourites for the tie and this first-leg but it may not be straight forward for the French champions.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa Tip: Paris Saint-Germain to win & both teams to score
