In the first leg of their Champions League tie, PSG successfully disrupted Aston Villa's usual build-up play, forcing longer passes and dominating second balls. This was a key factor in their 3-1 victory.
The second leg saw Aston Villa adopt a different strategy, employing a higher pressing game and successfully disrupting PSG's midfield. Unai Emery's tactical changes, including the inclusion of Onana and the advanced positioning of Digne, proved highly effective.
PSG's defensive performance faltered as they struggled to manage Villa's midfield pressure. Their high number of conceded shots and expected goals against reflected their defensive vulnerabilities, especially when defending while retreating.
The match highlighted several key factors:
Overall, Aston Villa's adjustments exposed weaknesses in PSG's defensive strategy, leading to a 3-2 defeat for PSG (despite not affecting qualification) and underscoring areas requiring improvement for future matches.