Villa Park will no doubt be bouncing as Unai Emery’s men welcome PSG in a highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash.
PSG secured a comfortable 3-1 over Aston Villa in the first leg, with Nuno Mendes’s last-gasp third securing a vital two-goal cushion for the Parisians.
Marcus Rashford has backed Villa’s chances ahead of the tie, and they will be in high spirits after their fourth straight Premier League victory this weekend.
Emery will hope that the momentum carries over to Tuesday night, and a fast start for Aston Villa will be critical.
Unai Emery faces Ollie Watkins dilemma
In the 3-0 win at Southampton, Emery rotated heavily with Tuesday in mind, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Boubacar Kamara, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne all starting on the bench.
Top scorer Watkins didn’t start the first leg, however with a goal at St Mary’s he has perhaps given his boss a very welcome selection headache.
Speaking ahead of the PSG tie, Emery was quick to sing the praises of his striker after his Southampton goal.
“He (Watkins) showed us he is feeling fantastic. He is scoring goals, He played 30 minutes performing really well [against Southampton].
“This is the variety we have with our players. We have to try to use their quality to help the team – be it 30 minutes, 10 minutes or five minutes. That is the mentality we need tomorrow,” the Aston Villa boss told reporters.
How Aston Villa could line up against PSG
Emi Martinez
A selection that needs little explanation, one of the best stoppers in the world, his experience will be vital in what could be an emotional game with so much at stake. Martinez experienced ‘hell’ against PSG in the first leg, and he will be desperate to get one over the French side this time around.
Matty Cash
The Polish international will be well aware of the task at hand, trying to defend Kvicha Kvaratskhelia who was the man of the match in the first leg. But the right back will also be vital providing the width going forward given the opportunity.
Ezri Konsa
This is another straightforward pick. He has been a consistent performer this season, in various centre-half pairings. He will hope he and his partner can cope with the frightening pace of the PSG front line.
Pau Torres
An assured and composed left-footed centre-back, Pau Torres’ return this season has been a welcome one for Emery, as he looks to help the backline stop what is one of the most potent attacks in Europe.
Lucas Digne
Much like Matty Cash on the other side, Lucas Digne will have a tricky customer in Ousmane Dembele to contend with. While he will have to be on top form defensively, the Frenchman will look to cause problems down the flank, well renowned for his crossing abilities.
Boubacar Kamara
The former Marseille man will be key for Villa. Strong tough tackling and very good on the ball, he will be battling against the tricky PSG midfield consisting of the inform Vitinha and Joao Gomes.
Youri Tielemans
Alongside Kamara, the Belgian international will be at the heart of that midfield battle, but the creative midfielder will look to get forward too, as he assisted Morgan Roger’s opener in Paris.
John McGinn
One of the first names on the team sheet, and with good reason. The captain will look to lead from the front. In the attacking midfield position, McGinn will be the main creative outlet in the game.
Morgan Rogers
A breakout star of the season, Morgan Rogers will look to his second of the tie on Tuesday. Playing on that right-hand side, he will likely be up against Nuno Mendes in a riveting battle.
Marcus Rashford
The hero in the Manchester United comeback against PSG in 2019, the loanee will look to haunt PSG one more time, this time in a Villa shirt. He will look to get in behind and cause problems for Hakimi on the left hand side.
Ollie Watkins
Back among the goals, the England international will be rearing to go in this game. Having come on in a late cameo in Paris, Watkins will look to add to his European tally, having scored just one this campaign, but if there ever was a game for him to turn his fortunes, it is this one.
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