On Tuesday, Aston Villa came close to securing a comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
PSG secured a 3-1 win in the first leg last midweek and the return leg took place at Villa Park yesterday. The visitors had a 2-0 lead before the half-hour mark and Aston Villa then went on score three goals.
Despite Aston Villa’s 3-2 victory at home, the two-legged tie ended with an aggregate score of 5-4 in the Ligue 1 club’s favour and they progressed to the semi-final.
L’Equipe have already given their ratings to Aston Villa players, ranging between 3/10 to 7/10, and have shared their reasoning.
Matty Cash got 3/10, and the French newspaper states: ‘Barcola’s pace gave him difficulties in the first half: he was overwhelmed from the start of the match, and on the move that opened the scoring (11th). More comfortable attacking (18th, 53rd), he finally managed to block Barcola (56th) and his final cross could have been an assist.’
The Aston Villa right-back got the lowest rating and 4/10 was given to Lucas Digne and three other Aston Villa players.
On Digne’s 4/10 rating, L’Equipe state: ‘He seemed to lack legs, as illustrated by his less than dynamic withdrawal for Paris’s first two goals. He was hampered by the opposition’s transitions, but his second half was more sedate, without him managing to make an impact offensively. Replaced by Maatsen.’
Amadou Onana also got 4/10 and L’Equipe say the Belgium international midfielder’s action led to PSG’s second goal scored by Nuno Mendes.
‘He embodied Villa’s difficulty in existing technically in midfield in the first half and he lost more balls (6) than he recovered (3). Offensively, he sometimes undoubtedly projected himself too much, as in the action which resulted in Nuno Mendes’ goal (0-2, 27th), which he initiated following a lost duel,’ L’Equipe said.
Aston Villa goalscorers John McGinn and Youri Tielemans both got 7/10.
On McGinn, the outlet stated: ‘Having set off alone with the ball at his feet from his own half, the captain scored a splendid goal with a blocked shot, the 2-2, which completely revived his team (55th). Previously, he had already distinguished himself with his assist for Youri Tielemans (1-2, 34th), with a header that grazed the target (49th), but also with his excessive commitment (rightly punished with a yellow card in the 42nd). The Scot made way for Marco Asensio (66th), who came very close to scoring (70th).’
For Tielemans, L’Equpe state: ‘He started well with a dangerous header (2nd) and good intentions, and his activity supported Villa’s response. It was his shot, deflected by Pacho, that revived hope (1-2, 34th), and he continued his momentum by being involved in several dangerous moves. His beautiful header was saved by Donnarumma (59th), and he was replaced by Barkley (88th)’
Despite Aston Villa’s elimination, Unai Emery was given 6/10 and L’Equipe explain: ‘Even though his team suffered a lot in the first half, several of his choices paid off, such as the gamble of placing Youri Tielemans at number 10, or his continued faith in Marcus Rashford up front. Similarly, two of the players he brought on, Marco Asensio (70th) and Ian Maatsen (90th + 3), came close to scoring the goal that made it 4-2.’
