Aston Villa are going to require a comeback greater than the magical effort produced by Rory McIlroy at Augusta if they are to overpower Paris Saint-German and reach the Champions League semi-finals.
The 1982 European Cup winners lost 3-1 to PSG at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their quarter-final with the perennial Ligue 1 kings and although they are tremendous in front of the Holte End it is going to take a massive effort to overcome that deficit.
Just like Rory rising above phenomenal pressure after blowing victory with a short putt on the 18th only to regroup and beat Justin Rose in a play-off to win his first Masters and become just the sixth golfer to win all four majors, it can be done.
Villa have not lost any of their last 17 matches on home soil, scoring two or more goals in seven of their last eight games in that impressive stretch, and manager Unai Emery is a master at getting the best out of his men when the chips are down.
The significant exception to that, however, was when he was in charge at PSG eight years ago. They walloped Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their epic last-16 showdown in this very competition only to lose 6-1 in the second leg at a boisterous Nou Camp as they were eliminated in the most embarrassing circumstances. Football being what it is, there’s surely no surprise the man in charge of the Catalans that night was current Paris chief Luis Enrique.
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Villa are 23/10 to win in 90 minutes with bet365 and 10/1 with Sky Bet to qualify while Paris Saint-Germain are 23/20 with Coral and Betfair to prevail in 90 minutes and the latter option is the way to go.
In fact the fairytale story this time around could well be Villa going ahead with loanee Marco Asensio gaining redemption after missing two penalties in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Southampton by firing the Premier League side ahead against his parent club at 9/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair.
But maybe this time the free-flowing French battle back after the break with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (29/10 with the same firms) and Ousmane Dembele (6/4 with bet365) completing the comeback . Villa/PSG in Bet Victor’s HT/FT market appeals at 25/1.
Barcelona take a 4-0 first leg lead to Borussia Dortmund and can reach the semis with ease by winning the return affair at 9/10 with Betfred. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is 7/2 with William Hill to score at some point in the proceedings.
• Carlos Alvarez showed the character, guts and determination required when he dug deep to win the Monte Carlo Masters after losing the first set to Italian Lorenzo Musetti. He may have won two grand slams in 2024 but this was his first ATP Masters 1000 title since Indian Wells last year and the revitalised Spaniard can continue his preparations for the French Open by winning again on clay in this week’s Barcelona Open at 21/20 with Betfair.
• Following his enthralling Masters play-off success against Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy is 5/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral to win next month’s US PGA at Quail Hollow.
He is also 33/1 with the same firms to finish in the top five in all four majors this year, 11/1 the top ten, 10/3 the top 20 and evens to make the cut in all four.