Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa predictions: Hosts to claim first-leg lead
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- Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Liverpool in the last-16
- Villa got the better of Club Brugge in the previous round
- Recommended bet: Tie/Paris Saint-Germain in Half Time/Full Time
Aston Villa face a stern test in the Champions League quarter-finals when they go to French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg on Wednesday.
Villa have done remarkably well to get this far in the club's debut Champions League campaign but getting past a crack PSG outfit in the last eight looks too tough an ask.
The Ligue 1 side, who sealed their domestic title over the weekend, deservedly knocked out Premier League leaders Liverpool in the previous round and Villa may struggle to cope the longer it goes on when they go up against Luis Enrique's side in the French capital.
Team news
Lee Kang-in is still on the sidelines due to injury for the hosts, who will also be without their suspended captain Marquinhos for the first leg.
Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele were all rested for the weekend win over Angers, but are all set to return to the line-up to face Villa.
The Premier League side are allowed to field PSG loanee Marco Asensio, who has scored eight goals in 11 games since joining in January, but Leon Bailey is still a fitness doubt and Ross Barkley remains on the sidelines.
The stats
Paris Saint-Germain have won their last six games in all competitions.
PSG have been level at half-time then gone on to win in two of their last three games.
The French side have lost just twice at their Parc des Princes home in all competitions all season.
Villa have been drawing at half-time in six of their last seven matches in all competitions.
Emery's side have won their last seven games, conceding just two goals in that spell.
This is the first-ever competitive meeting between the sides.
Prediction
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Villa's run to the last eight in Europe, coupled with an impressive run of form domestically, means that this is already shaping up to be a season to remember.
They would dearly love to progress further in the Champions League in what is the club's first season competing back at this elite level since 1983, but realistically they are unlikely to be able to see off a very talented PSG outfit over two legs.
Emery's side will want to stay in contention ahead of the return game at Villa Park and they should approach the midweek glamour tie in Paris with confidence as they are currently on a seven-game winning streak in all competitions.
Liverpool somehow got a 1-0 win at Parc des Princes in the previous round but the hosts were totally dominant in that clash and they are sure to be on the front foot again at home against another Premier League opponent.
Villa have canny boss Emery in the dugout and he is a master at setting his team up to prosper in cup ties, while the Spaniard will be keen to get one over on one of his former clubs when he returns to Paris.
The visitors look capable of holding PSG in the first half, but expect Enrique's men to come out on top eventually on Wednesday.
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