PSG’s Kvaratskhelia and Doué Shine in Champions League Victory Over Aston Villa
In a thrilling night of Champions League action, Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stole the spotlight with a wonder goal that overshadowed even the brilliance of his teammate Désiré Doué. PSG triumphed over Aston Villa with a 3-1 victory in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday, setting the stage for an exciting return leg.
PSG coach Luis Enrique was full of praise for both players, acknowledging the significant step his team took toward the semifinals. “For a coach like me, it’s so great to have a player like [Kvaratskhelia], with his mentality. He scored a brilliant goal,” Enrique said, reflecting on the Georgian winger’s performance. “We tried to sign him last summer and it didn’t work out. We signed him [in January] when we didn’t really expect to. He’s got everything to be part of our project.”
Kvaratskhelia’s goal was a masterpiece of skill and precision. Sprinting down the left from just over the halfway line, he dazzled Villa’s defense with his quick feet and superb balance. With the ball seemingly glued to his right foot, he wrong-footed defender Axel Disasi with a sudden change of direction, then smoothly rolled the ball onto his left foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot over the head of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
The match began with Aston Villa taking the lead in the 35th minute, thanks to a well-executed goal by Morgan Rogers. However, the lead was short-lived as the 19-year-old Doué equalized for PSG just four minutes later, scoring his 12th goal of a breakthrough season. Doué’s goal was a testament to his skill, as he picked up the ball on the left of the penalty area, skipped past two players, and curled the ball into the top right corner.
PSG’s dominance continued after the break, with Kvaratskhelia putting them in front just four minutes into the second half. Left-back Nuno Mendes sealed the victory with a third goal in stoppage time, showcasing his forward’s touch by latching onto a pass from Ousmane Dembélé, cutting inside a defender, and deftly guiding the ball into the net.
Reflecting on the match, Luis Enrique commented, “I think the result reflects the difference between us and them. Our objective is to keep the ball and be aggressive in attack.” The return leg is set for next Tuesday at Villa Park, where Aston Villa will look to overturn the deficit.
Kvaratskhelia’s goal was reminiscent of the kind of effort that earned him the nickname “Kvaradona” during his time at Napoli, a nod to the legendary Diego Maradona. This performance justified PSG’s decision to spend €70 million (then $72 million) on him in the winter transfer window.
Despite the defeat, Villa showed resilience, with Martínez making a great save against Achraf Hakimi’s powerful shot shortly after Kvaratskhelia’s goal. Villa’s captain John McGinn played a crucial role in their opening goal, winning the ball in midfield and setting up Marcus Rashford, who then fed Youri Tielemans for the assist to Rogers.
- PSG’s firepower was evident throughout the match, with their aggressive attacking style putting Villa under constant pressure.
- Villa’s defense, led by Martínez, showed moments of brilliance but ultimately couldn’t withstand PSG’s relentless attack.
- The return leg at Villa Park promises to be an exciting encounter, with Villa coach Unai Emery confident in his team’s ability to turn the tie around.
Emery remains optimistic, stating, “I believe we will win next week. Villa Park is our home.” As the teams prepare for the second leg, all eyes will be on Kvaratskhelia and Doué to see if they can replicate their stunning performances.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
