Luis Enrique (55), Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach, expressed satisfaction with the team's victory.

PSG defeated Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League, held at Parc des Princes in Paris on the 10th (Korea time), scoring three goals including a comeback goal by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Following this loss, Villa now faces the burden of needing to win by at least two goals in the second leg, while PSG can advance to the semifinals with just a draw away.

The home team PSG lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. Déliyé Due, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia took their positions at the front, while João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz filled the midfield. Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Lucas Beraldo, and Achraf Hakimi formed the back line, and Gianluigi Donnarumma guarded the goal. Lee Kang-in waited on the bench.

Villa set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Marcus Rashford took the front position, with Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, and Morgan Rogers in the attacking second line. Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans filled the midfield, while Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, and Matty Cash formed the back line. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Emiliano Martínez.

In the early stages of the match, Villa held the initiative. In the 35th minute of the first half, Tielemans's low cross was finished by Rogers, scoring the opening goal. PSG quickly launched a counterattack, and in the 39th minute of the first half, Déliyé Due equalized with a fantastic long-range shot.

With a comeback goal from Khvicha early in the second half, PSG completely seized the momentum and added an extra score by Mendes just before the match ended, finishing the first leg with a 3-1 victory.

Lee Kang-in was included in the substitute list for the first time since returning from injury but did not play. He had shown impressive performances in the first half of the season but has found himself slightly behind in the competition for a starting position in the second half.

After the match, UEFA Champions League relayed Luis Enrique's comments through its official website. He noted, "We showed the performance we expected. The opponent attempted to trouble us through set pieces and made it difficult to create chances by forming a midfield block. But we pressed well and had good decisiveness in transition situations."

He singled out Déliyé Due for praise. Enrique remarked, "He is an outstanding player in one-on-one situations. His shooting ability is good, and he can contribute defensively as well. All the players on the bench also have the ability to change the flow of the game, so I feel fortunate to have such a talented squad."

He added, "Our team showed that we can compete with any opponent. Due's goal before the end of the first half gave us good momentum, and the additional goal just before the match ended was literally the 'cherry on top.' Now, with the second leg approaching, we find ourselves in a good position," he said with a smile.

Coach Enrique commented, "When the opponent doesn't create chances properly but scores first, it makes the game difficult. We've had that happen several times. However, I think this result demonstrates not only the difference between the two teams but also our players' dedication and focus."

[OSEN]