The atmosphere was filled with tension and excitement at Villa Park, where everything was set for the kickoff of the quarterfinal second leg between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. However, an unexpected blunder disrupted the usual protocol and left everyone in shock: instead of the iconic anthem of Europe’s top competition, the stadium’s sound system played the Europa League anthem.

The surprised expressions on the players’ faces were immediate, while the crowd responded with loud whistles that echoed throughout the stands. Although the mistake was corrected minutes later—when the correct anthem finally played as the teams were already lined up—the incident quickly became a hot topic on social media and among the press in Birmingham.

This unusual episode stood in stark contrast to the serious preparation both clubs had put into the match. For Aston Villa, it was a golden opportunity to turn around the 3-1 defeat they suffered in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, while PSG came into the match aiming to seal the tie and book their spot in the semifinals.

Ahead of the clash, Ousmane Dembélé spoke to the press and offered a personal reflection on his form at the Parisian club. The 27-year-old forward admitted that although he had played for great teams like Barcelona with Messi, it is at PSG where he’s having the most fun. “I don’t know if it’s the best team I’ve played for, but it’s definitely the one I enjoy the most,” he said.

Dembélé also explained that his improved performance comes from positive changes in his personal life, which have helped him stay injury-free. “I’m in great physical shape, although I still don’t like physical training,” he joked.

Regarding the match against Aston Villa, the French attacker warned that the English side would come out pressing hard from the start, but made it clear that PSG wouldn’t sit back despite their lead from the first leg. “We’ll go out to win again. We can’t relax. In this team, everyone attacks and defends. If you don’t, you lose your place in the starting eleven,” he explained.