Aston Villa were beaten 3-1 by a clinical Paris Saint-Germain side in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Parc des Princes.
The Villans took the lead against the newly crowned Ligue 1 champions, but the hosts’ quality shone through as they turned the tie round and established a solid first-leg lead.
Morgan Rogers applied the finishing touch to a superb team move on 35 minutes, but PSG attacker Desire Doue equalised just a few minutes later.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia then scored a superb second early on in the second half before Nuno Mendes put a heartbreaking third past Aston Villa in injury time.
Villa cult hero Paul Merson delivered his verdict on the game at full time as he shared whether he thinks Villa can go on to overturn the two-goal deficit at Villa Park next week.
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Paul Merson doesn’t think Aston Villa can overturn 3-1 deficit against PSG
Merson admitted it was a shame that Villa conceded a third – indeed, he called it a “sickener” earlier as it went in – as he felt Unai Emery’s side should have kept it at 2-1.
The former midfielder admitted he can’t see Villa overturning the current deficit, given he can’t see PSG not scoring – he stressed an early goal from next week’s hosts is paramount.
“No [I can’t see them overcoming a 3-1 deficit], they will need an early goal as I can’t see PSG not scoring,” Merson said on Sky Sports News.
“Villa have just been undone by three unbelievable goals, yes Martinez made a couple of good saves, but it was not like Alison in the last round and they were a threat on the counter.
“It is just a shame to let in that third goal in the 92nd minute. PSG were the better team, but the way Villa defended, they deserved to come away with a 2-1.”
What Stephen Warnock thinks about Aston Villa’s chances
Although Warnock didn’t specify whether Villa could or could not make it in the second leg, he admitted that their chances were slim.
He noted how PSG will now have the luxury of being able to draw Villa out in the second leg – as they will be chasing the tie – and strike on the counter.
“Villa are going to have the same problem in the second leg too, especially with the score at 3-1,” Warnock said on MOTD: UEFA Champions League.
“Now they will have to go at them, which opens up the game for PSG on the break.
“If Villa were 2-1 down they could stick with the way they played in the first half tonight, knowing they can nick a goal and level the tie.
“PSG wlll be much happier now because they know they have got a two-goal lead to defend, and they also have this threat on the break.
“The third goal massively changes the tie, and it is massively in their favour now.”
