In Video: Can Aston Villa shock PSG? | Dougie Critchley previews UCL quarter-final second legs

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European Football Preview: A Thrilling Night Ahead

Tonight marks a thrilling night of European football, with several top-tier matchups taking place across the continent. Our expert, Doogie Critley, provides his insights and predictions for two crucial ties in the Round of 16.

Aston Villa vs. PSG: A David vs. Goliath Story Unfolds

The first tie of the evening pits Aston Villa against PSG, a clash between two teams from different worlds. While Villa has been on an impressive run, winning four consecutive Premier League matches and climbing to seventh in the table, their record in European competition is inferior. However, they have shown resilience at home, with 17 games unbeaten in all competitions. One player who has been instrumental in their success is Morgan Rogers, who has adapted seamlessly to the Champions League and has been a key factor in their recent victories.

PSG, on the other hand, has been in superb form, with 30 games unbeaten since November. They have the quality and depth to overcome Villa, with Usman Dembele, Desiré Weah, Kylian Mbappé, and others performing at the highest level. Despite having a two-goal advantage from the first leg, PSG has often struggled to take advantage of such leads in the Champions League, having lost three times out of seven. However, this season, they seem to have overcome that curse. Backed by their impressive recent form, we make PSG favorites to win.

Barcelona vs. Dortmund: A Dominant Performance Expected

Next, we shift our attention to the tie between Barcelona and Dortmund. The Catalan giants have been on a remarkable run, scoring over three goals per game in their last 25 matches. Their performance against Dortmund in the first leg was impressive, with Leandro Trossard and Raphinha scoring, and they seem to have the momentum necessary to seal a semifinal spot. Dortmund, on the other hand, has been in a downward spiral, with a poor home record and a dreadful season performance in the Bundesliga. Despite some recent injections of form, we believe they will struggle to overcome the might of Barcelona, who will likely dominate this tie.

Dortmund’s Quest for Redemption

Dortmund’s recent 2-2 draw against Hamburg, albeit as underdogs, and their eighth place in the Bundesliga suggest that they are trying to defy expectations. However, their deployment without Harland and Bellingham has weakened their squad, and the loss of their star center back Nico Schlotterbeck is a significant blow. In the absence of these key players and the immense talent of Barcelona, we predict Dortmund will fall short of an upset.

Final Thoughts

As we anticipate the thrilling night of football, these two ties promise to deliver high-energy action. While both Aston Villa and Dortmund will be eager to spring an upset, the strong performances and forms of PSG and Barcelona suggest that the former will have an uphill battle to overcome. Now we can only wait and see how these stories unfold!

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