Aston Villa face Paris Saint-Germain looking to overturn a 3-1 deficit in our Champions League quarter-final tie, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting line-up could look for the second leg.
The Villa boss has been utilising his squad depth and competition for places in recent weeks, as we’ve hit form at a crucial time in the Premier League in our pursuit of a top-five finish having registered four consecutive wins.
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In turn, multiple changes are expected again in midweek to the side that started at Southampton on Saturday afternoon, and it’s hoped that it strikes the best balance and gives us the best possible chance of securing the desired outcome.
With the quality that PSG possess, this promises to be a very difficult challenge as we saw just how good the Ligue 1 champions are in the first leg in Paris last week, and so Villa will have to produce a high-level performance both individually and collectively to have a chance of advancing.
Five changes, Watkins to lead the Villa line
Emiliano Martinez will continue in goal, and he’ll potentially have a decisive role to play as although the focus will be on our ability to score at least two goals, we have to put in a solid defensive performance too.
Once again, changes are expected to the backline ahead of him, with Lucas Digne and Pau Torres set to return to the Villa starting line-up to replace Ian Maatsen and Tyrone Mings respectively, while Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa should keep their respective spots.
The tireless Youri Tielemans will continue to operate in our midfield pivot and he’ll be another key individual who has to play at his highest level to give us a chance, given his ability to influence and dictate our play in possession and give us all-important control in the encounter.
Boubacar Kamara should get the nod to partner him as he’ll replace Amadou Onana, as he gives us defensive protection as well as quality in possession to hopefully link our play together.
After scoring in the first leg, Morgan Rogers will hope to pose a goal threat once again as he could start on the right while drifting inside into more central areas as he continues his fine campaign, while John McGinn is likely to come back into the Villa XI with the skipper looking to have a big influence on proceedings again with his tenacity and energy in the final third.
Fresh from his brilliant goal at the weekend, the expectation is that Ollie Watkins will return to lead the line, and that could mean Marcus Rashford shifts over to the left flank to complete our attacking trident behind the frontman.
It’s a potentially excellent Villa line-up again full of quality, craft and great work ethic, as we look to establish ourselves in the game early, take more control than in the first leg and hopefully show a ruthless edge to our play in attacking areas.
Axel Disasi, Mings, Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Onana, Marco Asensio, Jacob Ramsey and perhaps Leon Bailey will all be in reserve waiting to make an impact off the bench as we continue to boast great options if needed in the latter stages of games, but it’s hoped regardless of personnel, we’re able to get the job done and pull off what would be a remarkable achievement against one of the best sides in Europe.
