Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes.
Despite early dominance from the French champions, it was Aston Villa who struck first against the run of play. Morgan Rogers gave the Premier League side a surprise lead, finishing off a fluid attacking move orchestrated by Youri Tielemans, who provided a precise assist into the path of the forward.
PSG, fresh off their Ligue 1 title triumph last weekend, responded with composure and class. Desire Doue restored parity before half-time with a brilliant curling strike that left the Villa goalkeeper rooted. After the break, Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia showcased his individual brilliance with a stunning solo goal to put the Parisians ahead. The scoring was rounded off by full-back Nuno Mendes, who added a third to give Luis Enrique’s side a firm grip on the tie heading into the second leg.
In the night’s other quarter-final fixture, Barcelona delivered a dominant performance, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 at the Camp Nou. Robert Lewandowski led the charge with a brace, while Raphinha and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal each added a goal to seal a commanding victory for the LaLiga giants.
The return legs of the Champions League quarter-finals promise more drama as the battle for a place in the semi-finals heats up.