‘Pivotal’ midfielder gets nod as Emery conducts bold new Rashford experiment - Aston Villa predicted XI vs PSG

Aston Villa are back in action on Tuesday night for their long-awaited Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s side will have to perform a miracle to advance to the semi-finals after suffering a painful 3-1 defeat away in Paris last week. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring at the Parc des Princes but PSG fought back, scoring three goals courtesy of Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes to assume control of the tie.

Villa do of course have the home advantage for the second leg and there will be confidence they can get the first goal. Scoring twice will be easier said than done, however, and so will keeping a clean sheet against a team arguably favourites to win the entire competition.

Emery rotated heavily for the 3-0 win away at Southampton with this game in mind, so it’s likely we’ll see a full-strength Villa lineup against the Parisiens. The selection isn’t obvious, though, with spots at all ends of the field very much up for grabs.

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs PSG

Without further ado, here’s the starting XI we reckon Emery will name against PSG at Villa Park.

GK - Emi Martinez: The two-time Yashin Trophy winner will be disappointed to have conceded three at the Parc des Princes and will want to make amends this time around.

RB - Matty Cash: Disappointed to be yellow carded so early on in Paris, Cash will need to be at his absolute best if he is to keep Kvaratskhelia at bay.

CB - Ezri Konsa: Fresh and ready to go again despite playing the full 90 at St Mary’s, Konsa has proven to be such an important player for Emery. There’s no displacing him.

CB - Pau Torres: Rested at the weekend as Tyrone Mings started instead, Pau should be at full sharpness. The Spaniard’s passing out from the back will be just as important as his defending in this fixture.

LB - Lucas Digne: Another who sat at the Southampton win to stay fresh, Digne is ready to come back into the XI ahead of Ian Maatsen. He’ll have a point to prove against his former club.

CM - Boubacar Kamara: Vital to Villa for his strength and command at the base of midfield, Kamara can expect to replace Amadou Onana in the lineup.

CM - Youri Tielemans: Thriving in the double pivot just as much as he was as a number 10, Tielemans has played more minutes than any other Villa player this season. Emery just won’t rest him.

RM - Morgan Rogers: Undroppable this season, not many players in world football can charge forward on the ball as well as Rogers does. Villa will need him at his best.

LM - Marcus Rashford: Emery hinted at playing Rashford and Watkins in the same team and so this could be the way, with the Man Utd loanee out on the left flank.

CAM - John McGinn: The skipper has the potential to be PSG’s kryptonite if he can be at the top of his game as they really struggled to deal with his strength on the half turn in Paris.

ST - Ollie Watkins: Frustrated by the lack of starts recently, Watkins could get the nod. Villa need goals, after all, and Watkins is one of the best the club have got in that department.