Paris Saint-Germain took a giant stride toward the UEFA Champions League semifinals with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa at the Parc des Princes, capped by a late Nuno Mendes strike that dealt a crushing blow to the Premier League side’s hopes.

Aston Villa, making a deep run in Europe’s elite competition under Unai Emery, initially stunned the Parisian crowd by drawing first blood. In the 35th minute, Villa executed a swift counterattack after John McGinn dispossessed Nuno Mendes in midfield. Marcus Rashford quickly transitioned play to Youri Tielemans, who surged down the left and floated a perfectly placed cross to the far post, where Morgan Rogers finished calmly to give the visitors a surprising lead.

Their advantage, however, was short-lived.

Just four minutes later, PSG’s 19-year-old sensation Désiré Doué leveled the score with a moment of brilliance. Receiving the ball from Mendes on the left wing, Doué jinked inside and let fly with a curling shot that cannoned off the underside of the bar and into the net, giving Emiliano Martínez no chance and reigniting the home crowd.

PSG, buoyed by the equalizer, began the second half with even greater intensity. In the 49th minute, Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia produced a mesmerizing solo run, skipping past several Villa defenders before unleashing a low drive past Martínez at the near post to give the French side a 2-1 lead.

Aston Villa responded with resilience, with Martínez pulling off several key saves to keep his team in contention. Despite PSG dominating possession and registering 29 shots to Villa’s six, the English side seemed poised to leave Paris with a manageable deficit heading into the return leg.

But just as Villa looked to be settling for a one-goal loss, Nuno Mendes redeemed his earlier error in stoppage time. Receiving a slick pass from Ousmane Dembélé, the Portuguese fullback weaved inside, rounded Martínez, and slotted home PSG’s third of the night. It was a moment that not only restored Mendes’ confidence but also made Villa’s second leg assignment significantly more difficult.

Statistically, PSG controlled nearly every facet of the game from ball possession to attacking opportunities and the final score reflected their dominance. Yet, Villa's flashes of quality and well-organized defense hinted at a side that should not be counted out just yet.

With a two-goal cushion heading to Villa Park, PSG are in the driver’s seat. However, Unai Emery’s men have shown they can rise to the occasion, and with the backing of a passionate home crowd, the return leg promises to deliver another thrilling night of European football.