By Abubakar Y Ojima-Ojo
Nigerian football icon Sunday Oliseh has hailed Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as “one of my favourite teams to watch” after the Ligue 1 champions fought back to secure a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night.
The Premier League side stunned the Parc des Princes faithful in the 35th minute when Morgan Rogers tapped in a well-worked move, courtesy of Youri Tielemans’ precise pass, raising hopes of a famous upset.
However, PSG’s lethal attacking prowess ultimately proved too much for Unai Emery’s men, who now face an uphill battle to keep their semi-final dreams alive.
The hosts dominated possession and created a flurry of chances in the opening exchanges, with Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha both coming close to breaking the deadlock.
Despite Villa’s resilience, PSG’s quality shone through after the interval, levelling the score before surging ahead with two more goals, including a devastating stoppage-time strike that could prove decisive in the tie.
Oliseh, a former Super Eagles star who has since taken up coaching Nigeria’s national team, praised PSG’s performance and manager Luis Enrique’s influence
“This PSG side is gradually becoming one of my favourite teams to watch! Talented and upcoming young Superstars in my opinion. Bravo Luis Enrique for the hard work,” he said in a statement following the match.
Aston Villa, who had weathered an early PSG onslaught, showed flashes of brilliance but were ultimately undone by the French side’s clinical finishing.
The third goal, scored deep into added time, leaves Emery’s team with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
PSG, recently crowned Ligue 1 champions, now hold a commanding lead as they aim to progress further in their quest for European glory. For Villa, the task is clear but daunting: overturn a two-goal deficit against one of the continent’s most formidable sides.
