This Thursday morning, the Parisian air crackled with elation as French newspapers reveled in Paris Saint-Germain’s compelling 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash. The resounding win at the Parc des Princes has ignited a wave of national pride, with headlines echoing the sentiment that PSG not only won but “completely dominated” their Premier League counterparts with an air of “magnificent ease.”
Nuno Mendes’s dramatic stoppage-time strike sealed a memorable comeback for the French giants, a fitting end to a night that saw them overturn an initial setback courtesy of Morgan Rogers’s first-half goal for Villa. The brilliance of Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, each conjuring individual moments of magic to find the net, ensured PSG wrestled control of the tie, much to the visible disappointment of lifelong Aston Villa supporter Prince William, who watched the drama unfold from the stands.
Leading the chorus of praise, L’Equipe, the esteemed French football daily, showered Doue and Kvaratskhelia with accolades, awarding them impressive 8/10 and 7/10 ratings, respectively. Doue’s long-range equalizer was hailed as a “pure masterpiece,” while Kvaratskhelia’s dazzling performance was described as a “feast for the eyes.” The newspaper’s front page blazed with the headline “Strokes of genius,” accompanied by an image capturing the jubilant embrace between the two PSG stars.
Inside, L’Equipe’s match report painted a picture of Aston Villa being utterly outmaneuvered by Luis Enrique’s tactical setup. The assertion that the Parisians “romped to victory with magnificent ease” underscored the perceived gulf in class on the night. However, the French outlet didn’t hold back in its assessment of Villa’s performance, delivering a series of scathing player ratings. Jacob Ramsey and Matty Cash bore the brunt of the criticism, each receiving a dismal 3/10.
L’Equipe dissected Cash’s struggles, stating that the “right-back had clearly been targeted as the weak point in Villa’s defense. And rightly so.” They elaborated on his inability to win duels and his evident nervousness on the ball, ultimately leading to his half-time substitution. His replacement, Axel Disasi, fared no better, also receiving a grim 3/10 rating. Ramsey, meanwhile, was deemed to have “struggled to exist offensively” and was directly implicated in the concession of Kvaratskhelia’s goal.
Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s usually astute manager, also found himself in the firing line, receiving a harsh 3/10 rating for his tactical approach. L’Equipe lambasted his team’s perceived “refusal to play” and criticized his inability to address the vulnerability on Villa’s right flank. Marcus Rashford, John McGinn, and Ezri Konsa were all marked down with 4/10, while Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, Pau Torres, and Emiliano Martinez managed only a 5/10. According to L’Equipe’s assessment, only Rogers and French left-back Lucas Digne emerged with any credit for Villa, both earning a modest 6/10.
Adding to the chorus of French approval, Le Monde’s headline declared, “PSG dodge Villa’s trap in style,” suggesting a newfound resilience within the Parisian ranks. The newspaper highlighted PSG’s growing “trademark” of overcoming adversity after conceding the first goal, a trait vividly displayed in their dramatic comeback against Liverpool in the previous round.
Another prominent French outlet, 20 minutes, was effusive in its praise, claiming that PSG scored “three masterpieces to be exhibited at the Louvre” against Aston Villa. They lauded the “beauty” of the goals scored by Doue, Kvaratskhelia, and Mendes, emphasizing the stylish manner of PSG’s victory at the Parc des Princes. Le Figaro Sport echoed this sentiment, using the word “stunning” on their front page to describe PSG’s performance and applauding their ability to “put on a show.”
Despite the overwhelming French optimism, Unai Emery remained defiant, asserting that his team’s belief remained intact ahead of the crucial second leg at Villa Park next Tuesday. Speaking to TNT Sports, Emery downplayed the significance of the 3-1 deficit, stating, “[There is] not a lot of difference between 2 and 3-1 as we will play at home next week.” He expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform in front of their home supporters and vowed to “combat the result.” While acknowledging PSG’s dominance in possession, Emery hinted at a potential tactical shift for the return leg, aiming to create more opportunities for his side to regain momentum and possession.
