Marco Asensio – on loan at Aston Villa from PSG – is doing his best to change that narrative. He’s turned himself into a bit of a dread rival to his parent club. He was stellar in one of the round-of-16 games against Club Brugge. By netting a hat trick, his side cruised to a 6-1 aggregate win, and he’s positioned himself for a possible encore against PSG. The Spanish international always seems to show up whenever he goes head-to-head with his native club. He has an incredible track record of dominating those matchups.
Asensio’s switch to Aston Villa this summer has been a downright success so far. In less than half the time he was at PSG, he had scored just seven goals in a year-and-a-half. Now, in his current (and as of today, final) appointed return, he has far exceeded that count! Under Unai Emery’s guidance, Asensio is blossoming. With the routine out of the way, he’ll be keen to add to his goal tally when Chelsea face PSG in their two-legged quarter-final. This odd circumstance gives him the opportunity to show us what he can really do. Given UEFA regulations, PSG could not make his performance as a loaned player contingent on anything.
Asensio’s Previous Encounters with PSG
Asensio’s track record against Paris is punctuated by key moments that underscore his ability to shape important contests. Notably, during the 2019/20 season, he scored in both legs of a Champions League clash, which saw Real Madrid eliminate PSG from the competition. His goals made the team a source of great pride and success. Along the way, they increased the hurt on the French side.
And that capacity to come through in the big moments is precisely what has made Asensio such a tantalizing player. His ability to find the net against the biggest teams in the land has given him the reputation of a deadly attacker. Judging by these clips, he is certainly ready to face his parent club a second time. The highest stakes, and the most pressure Fans and pundits alike can’t wait to see if he can carry over that success to Villa Park.
The Transition to Aston Villa
Asensio’s transition from PSG to Aston Villa was marked by a loan agreement that allowed him the opportunity to play regular first-team football. The £2.5 million fee per game that PSG would have to pay if Thibaut Courtois took the field only further complicated the negotiations. Yet this condition would be key to eventually making Asensio’s transfer a reality. His Villa Park debut was an instant classic … just that he was wearing the colors of the opposition. Since that match, he has quickly established himself as a serious component of Villa’s attacking plans.
The change in style, direction, and context at Aston Villa has provided a refreshing revival script in the career of Asensio. Tactically, under Emery’s stewardship, he found a system that suits his talents. With this formulation allowing him to bloom on the field. His manager’s confidence in him is positively booming. Oh look, Asensio scored another goal. What a goal machine that kid is.
Looking Ahead
Asensio’s resurgence makes him one of the players to watch for Aston Villa when they take on PSG in their tournament opener on Saturday. On top of that, he has an amazing track record of delivering when it matters most. Now, the pressure shifts to whether he can pull a rabbit out of the Champions League hat. His special circumstance—playing for Aston Villa, while technically a PSG player—brings a wild card element to this duel.
The excitement over this matchup is as high in the football world as we’ve ever seen. Asensio’s ability to perform against his parent club could have significant implications for both teams moving forward in the competition. Obviously, Aston Villa will hope the Spaniard can maintain his scoring streak. They think he might assist in sending PSG out of Europe yet again.
Leave a Reply