Look psg have had a change of focus and it's taken some time to bed in a newish system with players who are actually bothered and of course went and signed a few. They were awful for a reason and that is why they were so low in the table. However, that's ancient history, as ancient as people saying lfc were the best side in Europe for topping that table. Villa actually did alright. They kept psg playing in front of them for most of the game but the usual errors out of the vastly over rated martinez and a couple of nice shots meant psg could pass until villa finally cracked late. It could have been worse if villa tried to be intense and on the front foot as psg swarm.and if you give them space the pace will kill. The tie is as over as the arsenal one so psg v arsenal in the semi will be a very high paced game.
actually I heard, or read on beeb, statistically PSG were on many fronts the best side, they simply didn't convert it to wins - perhaps reflected in the Liverpool tie losing at home despite dominating, winning away despite less domination, and progressing. obviously most stats aren't the be all and end all, but in an 8 games played league it was a mix of opponents and it was never likely be a 1-36 in order of best to worst. Liverpool got the best results of the 36 teams overall and topped the table, didn't make them the best side in Europe or indeed favourites, that's a conclusion many drew but a competition has to be like 6-8 games total for you to conclude the best team from that few games and usually they've only gone and won it...... to make my point clearer perhaps after 9 games Liverpool weren't top of the league....... (Man City were, could not seriously suggest at any early stage X, Y or Z were the best side in England based on that....) 1. Man City P9 W8 D1 L0 PTS 23 2. Liverpool P9 W7 D1 L1 PTS 22 also the points separating sides, especially obvious to factor in considering it was only 8 games 21 Liverpool (1st) GD +12 19 Arsenal (3rd) GD +13 16 Aston Villa (8th) GD +8 ----------------------------------------------- 15 Atalanta (9th) GD +14 15 Real Madrid (11th) GD +8 13 PSG (15th) GD +5 Liverpool 2 more points than Arsenal who are a round further and well placed to reach the semis, Villa 8th managed only 3 more points than PSG in 15th. obviously half of those finished 9th to 24th went out, but of those that finished 1-8 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th (half) went out in the very next round against the less than best/elite in Europe if you buy into ranking in the league phase means something crap Bottom line is it was obvious from the format that sides could play badly or indeed not care win or lose and still progress. Considering Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, and PSG DIDN'T finish 1-8 and yet 3 out of 4 have strong position in the quarter-finals whilst half the 1-8 bombed out in the L16 including top of the table Liverpool, should be a no brainer as to what the league table meant - diddly Wouldn't even write Real Madrid off completely,a side wins the competition with regular monotony and if Liverpool can come back from 3-0 down vs Barcelona, and indeed 3-0 down at half-time against Milan, I'm sure Real Madrid are capable of it.....
I am surprised with all the gossip/transfer talk of Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, Isak et al that Kavaratshkelia isn't all over the gossip pages as just posted PSG apparently had some of the best underlying stats in the league stage. In that game PSG (vs Arsenal away) Possession : 64.9% - 35.1% Shots : 10-6 (2-5 on target) Touches in box : 26-22 Saves : 3-2 Corners : 5-1 Hit woodwork : 2-0 Crosses : 18-6 Total passes : 647-354 Accurate passes : 578-289 (98 of PSG's passes backwards, 174 forwards) Defensive stats fairly even, think that's enough to give a picture that Arsenal won the most important in game stat, and thus the game (most goals scored) and Liverpool beat PSG in the knockout phase, albeit only one leg but 90 minutes same as league stage maybe this might clear up the nonsense conclusion of league stage placings, positions refer to current league positions in their respective domestic leagues PSG league stage games Wins : Girona 14th (h), RB Salzburg 3rd (a), Man City 6th (h), Stuttgart 9th (a) Draws : PSV 2nd (h) Losses : Arsenal 2nd (a), Atletico 3rd (h), Bayern 1st (a) sure the average saw most teams play even spread of teams, but who you got home and away could always prove crucial and losing away to goners and Bayern is hardly a sin and Atletico are 'only' 7 points off the top of La Liga whilst pundits wax lyrical about whichever Galactico is flavour of the month at the time - 3 behind their city rivals
re PSG stats, will do comparison with game vs villa even though that was home game for PSG PSG (vs Aston Villa at home) Possession : 75.4% - 24.6% Shots : 29-7 (10-2 on target) Touches in box : 58-9 Saves : 1-8 Corners : 5-1 Hit woodwork : 1-0 Crosses : 15-5 Total passes : 841-271 Accurate passes : 795-205 (126 of PSG's passes backwards, 167 forwards) PSG had over 1000 touches against villa, perhaps one key stat is 355-40 successful final third passes, all well and good commentary larging it when villa scored "not how much possession you have but what you do with it", but the bottom line is you can't score without the ball (own goals and rare/exceptional circumstances aside) so you'd have to be very efficient with the ball in the final third and very good defending to avoid defeat - kind of like Liverpool away to PSG PSG (vs Liverpool at home) Possession : 70.4% - 29.6% Shots : 27-2 (10-1 on target) Touches in box : 52-13 Saves : 0-9 Corners : 14-2 Hit woodwork : n/a (couldn't see it in the stats at all) Crosses : 24-5 Total passes : 693-295 Accurate passes : 629-220 (89 of PSG's passes backwards, 163 forwards)
Admittedly, this is on the basis that he was fine and fit but not starting Watkins last night felt like a grave error from Emery. This has been your guy for the last near 3 seasons. And you leave him on the bench for a guy that isn't even technically your player? Horrific man management for me.
This was a very special occasion for me as most of my mates I go to PSG games with are Villa fans. Had a rather large gathering early (6:30 local time) and had a blast. Loads were cocky about this tie but I learned a long time ago not to consider any given tie a given. When Rogers scored the first, things weren't looking good and had Doué not equalised before ht things could have been very complicated. Speaking from experience of watching him play for Reims, Disasi as a full-back doesn't work! Thought Cash did alright against the 2 wing wizards but was fast running out of steam. Rest of the 2nd wasn't riveting stuff but glad we got that 3rd one to take to the midlands. Roll on Tuesday.
Really hope Villa win and go through tonight. Would be great to see them go all the away and put all their eggs in the Champions League basket
Hope you guys don't mind that I want PSG to advance into the semi-finals. Would be hilarious if they would do " a 1-2-3" with PL clubs. First Liverpool, then Villa and in the semi-final Arsenal (here I hope they advance against "the evil" tomorrow ). Tbh after getting rid of the likes of Neymar, Messi and lastly Mbappé this PSG club becomes more likeable. Ok, they still have a guy like Ousmane Dembélé in their squad who I can't stand (after his "strike" at BVB to force his transfer to Barcelona back then) but overall they are more likeable now. Maybe they even win the whole thing this time and breaking the "bottle job" curse I'll watch Villa vs PSG tonight because I don't want to see BVB becoming a victim against Barca, again. This match last week was very painful to watch and I don't need it again.
Hopefully Villa can get an early goal to make it interesting. Hard to see a way back if PSG score first.
Go on Villa, get an early goal and you never know. These are a very good side and a lot of people's favorite to lift it.
Villa just need to give it a right go, ride the crest of emotion & leave everything out there. This PSG team have become properly excellent, quick, mobile, incredibly skilfull, press really well & outstanding technically, will take some effort for Villa to get something you'd imagine. Do think there's the potential to get at at the CBs & in behind, particularly Hakimi, when that defence isn't set. Emery is capable of producing that on the break & a huge European result. I'm surprised Watkins is on the bench again, Emery just have seen something he thinks can work v these.
