Aston Villa’s 3-2 win at Villa Park wasn’t enough as their Champions League journey came to an end after a 5-4 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa came into the game hoping to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit, but things didn’t go according to the script Unai Emery had prepared, as they went behind in the 11th minute. Achraf Hakimi capitalised on an error from Emiliano Martinez to put the French side ahead.
Nuno Mendes doubled PSG’s advantage in the 27th minute, but Aston Villa refused to back down and pulled one back seven minutes later through Youri Tielemans.
The match reached its climax in the second half as Aston Villa threatened a comeback. Backed by the relentless Villa Park crowd, it looked like the game was heading for extra time.
John McGinn drew Villa level on the night ten minutes into the second half with a brilliant solo effort, driving from his own half before firing in a strike from 20 yards out.
Ezri Konsa sent the Villa fans into ecstasy in the 57th minute as he put them ahead on the night and just one goal behind on aggregate. Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United academy product currently on loan with Villa, was the architect of the goal.
Villa almost got another a minute later through Rashford, whose shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar by Donnarumma.
The 26 year old was called into action again in the 69th minute, making a jaw-dropping save to deny Marco Asensio, who was through on goal.
Aston Villa nearly sent the tie to extra time with the last kick of the game, as Matty Cash unleashed a thunderbolt strike that looked destined for goal, but Willian Pacho put his body on the line to make a heroic block.
Paris Saint-Germain held on to secure a fifth Champions League semi-final appearance — a club record for Luis Enrique’s side.
PSG will face the winner between Real Madrid and Arsenal in the semi-finals.
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