Prince William donned his “lucky clothes” as he took Prince George to Paris to watch Aston Villa in the Champions League on Wednesday night. It briefly looked as though the royal’s favourite team would cause a huge shock agaist Paris Saint-Germain, only for the French champions to come from behind to win 3-1.
“I’m wearing all my lucky clothes,” William told TNT Sports before kick-off. He said he was “pretty terrified” ahead of a meeting with a PSG team who eliminated Liverpool in the previous round.
Villa’s famous fans were in dreamland during the first half. The French side dominated early on but their Premier League opponents soaked up pressure before going in front through Morgan Rogers.
Their lead didn’t last long, but PSG needed to be at their best to draw level. Desire Doue scored the equaliser, cutting in to curl a brilliant effort into the top corner.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put the hosts in front early in the second half with what might have been an even better goal, finishing off a solo effort with a finish which beat Emi Martinez high at the near post. And, just as Villa looked like ending with an honourable 2-1 loss, Nuno Mendes’ late goal made their task that bit harder.
William and George will be hoping for a comeback for the ages in the second leg. PSG’s squad is packed with attacking talent, and they haven’t lost an away match in any competition since back in November.
“Massive. Destroying for Aston Villa,” former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “That third goal is huge. Paris St-Germain have been by far the better of the two teams. That’s a sucker punch.”
Prince William has spoken of his love for Aston Villa in the past. He was born less than a month after Villa won the European Cup in 1982, but Unai Emery’s team will need to pull out a big performance to stay alive in its successor tournament, the Champions League, this term.
“Aston Villa’s always had a great history,” he said in the past, per BBC Sport. “I have got friends of mine who support Aston Villa and one of the first FA Cup games I went to was Bolton v Aston Villa back in 2000. Sadly, Villa went on to lose to Chelsea (in the final).
“It was fantastic, I sat with all the fans with my red beanie on, and I was sat with all the Brummie fans and had a great time. It was the atmosphere, the camaraderie and I really felt that there was something I could connect with.”
Villa are one of two Premier League teams left in the Champions League at the quarter-final stage. The others, Arsenal, are in pole position to progress after a 3-0 first leg win at home to Real Madrid.
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