Pre-game, captain John McGinn promised Aston Villa fans they could still expect "as much as possible" this season despite the high-profile exits of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans. A battling performance in Austria backed those words up as, even in this defeat by PSG, Villa scared the European champions for a second time in 18 months, following their 5-4 Champions League last-eight defeat in 2025. No Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez and Ezri Konsa - given more time off after the World Cup - which allowed teenager Brian Madjo to finally show what he can do after Villa won their appeal to register him, and 19-year-old midfielder George Hemmings also getting a start.