Aston Villa fell agonisingly short of a miraculous comeback against Paris Saint-Germain as the club’s UEFA Champions League journey came to an end at the quarter-final stage.
Goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes made it 2-0 to the away side after 27 minutes and left the hosts with a mountain to climb at 5-1 down on aggregate.
But Unai Emery’s team refused to give in, pulling one back before the break via Youri Tielemans.
Two goals in the space of three second-half minutes, a barnstorming run and shot from John McGinn and a composed finish by Ezri Konsa, put Villa ahead on the night and sent the stadium into raptures.
Gianluigi Donnarumma then took centre stage, making tremendous saves from Tielemans and Marco Asensio before Ian Maatsen's stoppage time half-volley was cleared by a covering defender as Villa pushed unsuccessfully to prolong their debut campaign in the Champions League.
An injury-time goal from the Ligue 1 champions six days ago left the home side with a two-goal deficit heading into the second leg, but Villa Park ensured the players would receive all the support they needed to produce a big performance, creating an electric atmosphere ahead of kick-off.
And the roars from the stands almost increased tenfold inside the first two minutes when Tielemans’ near post header was diverted just wide by João Neves.
However, following a strong start from Villa, it was the visitors who grabbed the opening goal in the 11th minute when Hakimi stole in to make it 4-1 on aggregate.
A swift counter-attack down the left saw Bradley Barcola attempt to pick out Ousmane Dembélé in the middle, but when his cross was cut out by Emi Martínez, it rolled nicely into the path of the full-back to finish.
Donnarumma parried a Pau Torres half-volley away and Morgan Rogers curled a low effort narrowly past the far post as Villa looked to respond.
PSG’s speed on the break led to the first goal and it was also how they netted their second, springing out of their own half and creating a 4v2 in attack, with Mendes firing a shot in off the post after being picked out by Dembélé.
Facing a four-goal deficit failed to deter the hosts, who struck back seven minutes later when Tielemans’ shot was deflected past the ‘keeper by Willian Pacho.
Captain McGinn led a positive start to second half, flicking a header across goal and just wide of the far post minutes after the restart.
Donnarumma denied Marcus Rashford soon after as the home side built up a head of steam, diving at the striker’s feet as a loose ball fell his way in the box.
Villa’s bright beginning to the half soon paid handsome dividends in the form of two goals in three minutes to revive the club’s hopes of a place in the semi-final.
First, McGinn marauded through the centre of the pitch, travelling 50 yards before sending a slightly deflected shot over Donnarumma and into the back of the net.
Villa Park was still celebrating when Rashford jinked past two defenders and set up Konsa to give the home side the lead for the first time on the night.
Pandemonium in the stands ensued as the Villa faithful dared to dream once more, with Tielemans and Torres coming close to an aggregate leveller.
McGinn and Amadou Onana departed to standing ovations as Emery introduced Asensio and Jacob Ramsey into the action.
Asensio spurned a glorious chance to make it 5-5 soon after coming on, striking his shot at Donnarumma after being put through 1v1, and Konsa failed to connect with a whipped free-kick from Rashford as the chances kept coming for Villa.
PSG adopted attack as the best form of defence in the closing stages, with Martínez saving from Dembélé, Hakimi and Désiré Doué.
But with the seconds ticking down it was left to Pacho to break Villa hearts, clearing Maatsen's goalbound shot with his goalkeeper beaten.
