PSG came back to beat Villa in style thanks in part to a brilliant goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
(Carl Recine via Getty Images)
Barcelona and PSG entered Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinals as joint-favorites to win the competition. And over 90 minutes apiece in Paris and Catalonia, they earned their lofty status.
In simultaneous quarterfinal first legs, Barca eased past Borussia Dortmund, 4-0; and PSG beat Aston Villa, 3-1, with a pair of stunning solo goals, and a third that might prove crucial.
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Only one of the superclubs, Barca, is in the clear as the two quarterfinal matchups head to England and Germany for second legs next week. But both, by the end of the 90 minutes Wednesday, were ascendant.
In Paris, at a raucous Parc des Princes, PSG actually went behind in the 35th minute. After a half-hour of caution and sturdy resistance, Villa drove forward on the counter, and Morgan Rogers gave the visitors a surprising lead.
But PSG’s quality and pressure soon paid off. Four minutes later, 19-year-old winger Désiré Doué dipped inside and sent a 25-yard drive whizzing past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, in off the crossbar.
Four minutes after halftime, the other winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one-upped him.
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The 24-year-old Georgian, nicknamed “Kvaradona,” bamboozled Villa. He nearly put deputy fullback Axel Disasi on the grass with a feint, then pinged a left-footed shot in off the inside of the near post. Martinez stood no chance. PSG, suddenly, was ahead.
The hosts would’ve liked to be further ahead by the end of the night. Instead, for 40-plus minutes, Villa held firm. At 2-1, the historic English club held significant hope going back to Birmingham next Tuesday.
But in second-half stoppage time, Nuno Mendes made it 3-1. PSG’s cohesion and comprehensive brilliance overwhelmed Villa. The final whistle was something of a reprieve for the visitors — a reprieve from 29 PSG shots and 75% possession, from an onslaught that will be difficult to undo in Leg 2.
In Barcelona, meanwhile, the La Liga leaders left no doubt about their superiority. While PSG was somewhat wasteful, Barca was ruthless. Raphinha put them ahead in the 25th minute. Robert Lewandowski made it 2-0 soon after halftime.
Lewandowski tucked away another superb team goal in the 66th minute, and by that point, Barca was flying, as it so often is.
Eleven minutes later, Lamine Yamal added a fourth, and the 2024-25 Champions League, for all intents and purposes, said goodbye to Borussia Dortmund.
A blow-by-blow recap of both matches is below.
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Aston Villa vs. PSG (1-3)
Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona (0-4)
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal (0-3)
Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich (2-1)
