Unai Emery says PSG’s third goal does not change Villa’s task in second leg
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says Paris St Germain’s late goal in their 3-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat does not affect his side’s chances of progressing.
UEFA Champions League Sport News
Barcelona Still Improving: Hansi Flick Warns Rivals After Thrashing Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick warned their Champions League rivals his team are still looking to improve after beating Borussia Dortmund 4-0 on Wednesday. The Catalans put one foot into the semi-finals with the first leg thrashing of last year's runners-up at the Olympic Stadium. Barca are the competition's top scorers with 36 goals and their dynamic attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal strike fear into the hearts of opponents.
Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Remains Bullish Despite Defeat In Paris
Aston Villa coach Unai Emery insisted he still believes his side can get the better of Paris Saint-Germain and reach the Champions League semi-finals despite a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their last-eight tie on Wednesday. Villa took the lead in the first half in Paris through Morgan Rogers only for the hosts to turn the game on its head thanks to stunning strikes by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia either side of the interval. And a Nuno Mendes effort in stoppage time which gives PSG a two-goal cushion to take to Villa Park for the return appears to leave Emery's side with a huge task to turn the tie around.
Kvaratskhelia’s wonder goal helps PSG beat Aston Villa 3-1 in 1st leg of CL quarterfinals
PARIS: A wonder goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia upstaged a brilliant curling shot from teammate Désiré Doué as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday. After Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the 35th minute, the 19-year-old Doué drew PSG level four minutes later with the 12th goal of his breakthrough season. Kvaratskhelia put PSG in front four minutes after the break and left back Nuno Mendes added a third goal in stoppage time with a fine finish of his own. “I think the result reflects the difference between us and them,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique, whose side has greater firepower and showed more of a threat going forward. “Our objective is to keep the ball and be aggressive in attack.” Kvaratskhelia’s was the goal of the night. He sprinted down the left from just over the halfway line and then mesmerized Villa’s defense in a blizzard of quick feet and superb balance. Advancing at pace with the ball seemingly glued to his right foot, he then wrong-footed defender Axel Disasi with a sudden change of direction, before rolling the ball onto his left foot in one smooth motion and blasting an unstoppable shot over the head of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. “For a coach like me it’s so great to have a player like him, with his mentality.
Aston Villa face uphill task to keep their Champions League hopes alive
Aston Villa’s Champions League dream is hanging by a thread after losing 3-1 at Paris St Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final.
Arsenal Stun Real Madrid As Declan Rice Delivers Free-Kick Masterclass
Arsenal stormed to a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid as Declan Rice's free-kick masterclass left the Gunners within touching distance of a place in the semi-finals. Rice scored two majestic free-kicks in the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Merino added Arsenal's third goal before Real's Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for kicking the ball away in the closing minutes to leave the Spanish giants in disarray. The brilliance of Rice's brace cannot be understated, with even Real keeper Thibaut Courtois -- usually so inspired on Champions League nights -- unable to get anywhere near the England midfielder's thunderbolts.
Unai Emery Relishes Aston Villa's 'Huge Challenge' Against PSG
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is relishing the prospect of taking on Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as the English former winners seek to end the French side's quest for continental glory. "Aston Villa is a historic club that won the European Cup in 1982 and of course it is very special in football," Emery pointed out at a press conference in Paris on Tuesday on the eve of the first leg. "When I arrived at Villa two-and-a-half years ago I knew this history. Of course my challenge at that moment was to compete for trophies, and to get back into Europe. To be in the Champions League is really amazing but maintaining consistency is the next challenge.
Late Davide Frattesi Strike Gives Inter Milan Edge Over Bayern Munich In Champions League
An 88th-minute Davide Frattesi goal took Inter Milan to a 2-1 win at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, giving the Italians the edge after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Undermanned Bayern, nursing a bulging casualty ward, set the tone in the first half-hour, with Michael Olise and Harry Kane narrowly failing to break through. Inter opened the scoring on the 38-minute mark when Marcus Thuram's clever back-heel found Lautaro Martinez who blasted home. The Italians maintained control until Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller, days after announcing a summer departure after 25 years at the club, scored the equaliser with a typical poacher's finish with five minutes remaining.