This Tuesday, April 15 at 3:00 PM ET, the legendary Villa Park will host a do-or-die clash where Aston Villa will try to pull off the unthinkable: overturn a 3–1 loss against Paris Saint-Germain from the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. After falling at the Parc des Princes, the English side needs to win by at least two goals to force extra time—or even dream of snatching a straight-up ticket to the semis.

Unai Emery believes in Villa’s fighting spirit

Spanish manager Unai Emery knows just how big the challenge is: “We want to write history here with Aston Villa,” he said. With Ross Barkley back from injury and the squad in great shape, Emery hasn’t yet confirmed his starting lineup. Asked about a potential strike duo of Ollie Watkins (15 goals this season) and Marcus Rashford (3 goals in recent weeks), he was clear: “I want to try things. I want to experiment—but not right now, not with this little time.”

PSG won’t let their guard down

On the other side, PSG arrive with confidence after a solid win in the first leg, thanks to goals from Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes—and with the added boost of having captain Marquinhos back after serving his suspension. Coach Luis Enrique made it clear there’s no room for overconfidence: “Quite the opposite. We’re fired up to play the kind of match we need,” he said from Birmingham.

Luis Enrique stressed that PSG won’t change their attack-minded approach, even with the lead: “We’ve got the advantage, but playing it safe isn’t in our DNA.” He also praised the maturity shown by his younger players: “PSG has proven it’s among the best in Europe,” he added.

One of the season’s standout performers, Ousmane Dembélé, also spoke ahead of the match: “This is the team where I’m having the most fun.” He mentioned feeling in great shape and highlighted his coach’s influence: “Luis Enrique always tells us to believe until the end, and that’s really shaped this team’s identity.”

Everything set for a magical night

With both squads at full strength and Villa Park promising an electric atmosphere, everything’s lined up for another unforgettable Champions League night. PSG will be aiming to punch their ticket to the semis, while Aston Villa will count on grit, tactics, and the home crowd to pull off a historic comeback.