Mendes' late strike puts PSG in control against Villa

Nuno Mendes scored in stoppage time, giving Paris St-Germain a crucial lead against Aston Villa. This was during the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Parc des Princes.

Aston Villa seemed poised to only need one goal to advance. However, Mendes struck late, delivering a blow to Unai Emery's team.

Villa shocked PSG when Morgan Rogers scored from Youri Tielemans' cross after 35 minutes. The away fans, including the Prince of Wales, celebrated joyfully.

PSG equalized just four minutes later. Desire Doue curled a stunning shot from 20 yards past Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia troubled Villa all night. He put PSG ahead shortly after halftime with a powerful shot past Martinez.

Martinez made several impressive saves but was beaten by Mendes in the final moments. This left Emery and his team feeling disappointed as PSG celebrated.

Villa's fans were ecstatic when they took the lead before halftime. John McGinn's steal led to Tielemans assisting Rogers for a close-range goal.

Unfortunately for Villa, their lead was short-lived. They had to defend against PSG’s talented squad, who are now favorites to advance.

Martinez faced jeers from PSG fans but made key saves against Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi.

As stoppage time began, Villa believed they could recover from a one-goal deficit. However, Mendes’ late goal made their task much harder.

The Villa players fell to the ground in despair as they realized the significance of that last-minute goal.

It was a tough match for them against one of Europe’s best teams. Despite battling hard, they conceded again right at the end.

There is still hope for Villa in the second leg, but it has diminished slightly after Mendes’ late strike.

Paris St-Germain and their supporters may feel closer to winning their first Champions League title. Under coach Luis Enrique, they have shifted away from relying on superstars like Neymar and Mbappe.

Instead, they focus on building a youthful and dynamic team with talents like Doue and Kvaratskhelia alongside Dembele.

PSG combines composed possession with fast-paced attacks that have already defeated Manchester City and Liverpool this season.

With their current form, they believe they have enough advantage to reach the semi-finals.