After 35 minutes of enthralling Champions League action in their first leg tie in Paris, Aston Villa were sitting pretty with a one goal lead against Paris Saint Germain. Fast forward sixty minutes and Unai Emery’s side found themselves on the end of a 3-1 defeat and facing an uphill task to advance to the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.
Nuno Mendes’ 92nd minute strike which gave PSG their third goal on the night has completely changed the complexion of this tie and left Aston Villa as 15/2 outsiders with sportsbook CopyBet, to qualify for the final four. PSG are heavy odds-on favourites at 1/14 to advance and 11/10 to record a second leg win on the night as well.
Villa Park Advantage Could Prove Crucial
Villa do have cause for optimism though and they’ll point to Arsenal’s 2-0 victory against PSG earlier in this campaign as evidence that Luis Enrique’s side are certainly beatable on English soil. With the away goals rule having been scrapped, a repeat of that 2-0 scoreline in Villa’s favour would see this tie extend into extra time and potentially all the way to penalties.
Villa fans can take confidence from the fact that they have only suffered two home defeats all season, with the most recent of those coming back in October against Crystal Palace in the League Cup. Since then they have won 11 and drawn six of their 17 Villa Park fixtures in all competitions.
Goals Expected From Both Sides
With all the attacking talent on display from both sides, goals seem guaranteed. Villa have netted three times in four of their last six matches in all competitions while PSG have scored an impressive 17 in their last five outings.
The betting markets reflect this attacking potential:
- Over 2.5 goals: 8/15 with CopyBet
- Over 3.5 goals: 13/10
- Both teams to score in 90 minutes: 12/25
First Goalscorer Market Analysis
CopyBet customers can enjoy one of their promotional offers on this match, their Bet £20 – Get £60 feature, and one market which may prove popular is the first goalscorer.
He may have failed to score in his last three club games, including the first leg tie, but PSG attacker Ousmane Dembele has netted 31 times for club and country so far this season and he’ll carry a real threat to Emi Martinez and the Aston Villa defence tonight.
First goalscorer odds:
- Ousmane Dembele: 9/2 (favourite)
- Ollie Watkins: 11/2
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: 6/1
Betting Tips and Prediction
While PSG hold the advantage, Villa’s impressive home record makes this an intriguing betting proposition. For those looking for value, the both teams to score market at 12/25 looks appealing given both teams’ recent scoring form.
For those backing a Villa comeback, the 2-0 correct score in Villa’s favor offers significant value, while more conservative bettors might prefer the Villa or Draw double chance market.
Whatever the outcome, this Champions League quarter-final second leg promises to be a thrilling encounter with plenty of betting opportunities for football fans.