PARIS: A wonder goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia upstaged a brilliant curling shot from teammate Désiré Doué as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.
After Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the 35th minute, the 19-year-old Doué drew PSG level four minutes later with the 12th goal of his breakthrough season.
Kvaratskhelia put PSG in front four minutes after the break and left back Nuno Mendes added a third goal in stoppage time with a fine finish of his own.
“I think the result reflects the difference between us and them,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique, whose side has greater firepower and showed more of a threat going forward. “Our objective is to keep the ball and be aggressive in attack.”
Kvaratskhelia’s was the goal of the night.
He sprinted down the left from just over the halfway line and then mesmerized Villa’s defense in a blizzard of quick feet and superb balance.
Advancing at pace with the ball seemingly glued to his right foot, he then wrong-footed defender Axel Disasi with a sudden change of direction, before rolling the ball onto his left foot in one smooth motion and blasting an unstoppable shot over the head of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“For a coach like me it’s so great to have a player like him, with his mentality. He scored a brilliant goal,” Luis Enrique said about Kvaratskhelia. “We tried to sign him last summer and it didn’t work out. We signed him (in January) when we didn’t really expect to. He’s got everything to be part of our project.”
The return leg is next Tuesday.
In Wednesday’s other game, five-time champion Barcelona crushed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski scoring twice either side of goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Kvaratskhelia belongs in such elite company.
His goal was exactly the kind of effort that earned the flying Georgia winger the nickname ” Kvaradona ” when he was playing for Napoli, in reference to soccer maestro Diego Maradona — the Italian club’s greatest ever player — and prompted PSG coach Luis Enrique to spend 70 million euros (then $72 million) on him in the winter transfer window.
Shortly after Kvaratskhelia’s goal, Martinez made a great save low to his right against Achraf Hakimi’s powerful shot as PSG poured forward looking for a third goal.
Villa was at this stage of the competition for the first time since 1983 and dealt well with early pressure before taking the lead with a well-worked goal.
Bustling captain John McGinn won the ball in midfield and advanced before picking out Marcus Rashford, the forward who scored a stoppage-time winner here for Manchester United six years ago. Rashford fed Youri Tielemans overlapping down the left and he pinged a cross to the back post where Rogers was left unmarked to tap in.
The lead was brief as Doué picked up the ball on the left of the penalty area, skipped past two players and curled the ball into the top right corner.
“He’s got everything he needs to become a great player,” Luis Enrique said. “He really doesn’t need much space to dribble.”
Martinez played long balls early on to test PSG’s defense, but he was soon called into action with a flying save from Dembélé’s angled strike in the eighth minute.
He couldn’t do much about the goals that beat him, however, with Nuno Mendes showing a forward’s touch when he latched onto Dembélé’s pass, cut inside a defender and deftly guided the ball in.
“We’ve watched their last few games and know how deadly and sharp they’ve been,” Rogers said. “They’ve put the world on notice now.”
But Villa coach Unai Emery believes he can still eliminate the club he coached from 2016-18.
“I believe we will win next week,” he said. “Villa Park is our home.”

JEDDAH: The first women-only navigational rally in the Middle East kicks off from Petra in Jordan, where 100 women from 37 countries take the driver’s seat for a journey of unique motorsport experience, empowerment, and adventure.

The Rally Jameel 2025, which runs from April 21-26, will see pilots and co-pilots competing across Jordan and Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes, beginning in Petra and ending in Qassim.

During a press conference held at Hayy Jameel, organizers of Jameel Motorsport announced that the fourth edition of Rally Jameel will bring together 45 teams from 37 countries. With 25 returning teams from previous editions and 20 first-time participants, the 2025 edition reflects the event’s growing global momentum and reputation as a platform for competition, cultural exchange, and empowerment.

Munir Khoja, managing director of Jameel Motorsport and marketing communications at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, said: “Rally Jameel continues to evolve as a powerful platform that brings together women from across the globe to share in a unique motorsport experience. This year, we proudly celebrate the return of seasoned teams who have helped shape the rally’s legacy, while welcoming a new wave of competitors eager to make their mark. It’s this vibrant mix of experience and fresh energy that makes the rally so special. With its expanded route and increasing international recognition, Rally Jameel not only advances women’s participation in motorsport, but also embodies the spirit of Vision 2030 by showcasing the natural beauty, cultural richness, and adventure tourism potential of our region.”

With interest in the 2025 Rally Jameel already running at record levels, Abdullah Bakhashab, head of the organizing committee, had detailed the outline route for the six-day event.

He said: “Racing from Petra to Qassim on deserts, mountain ranges, and coastal vistas, the route for the 2025 Rally Jameel covers 1,500 km, taking the 45 teams deep into the natural beauty and geographic diversity of Saudi Arabia and Jordan.”

Asked about the historic milestone as the rally goes global for the first time, he explained: “This year’s rally is witnessing a significant leap forward, as an agreement has been reached with the Kingdom of Jordan to launch the rally from Petra and they have welcomed the idea and given us all the support we needed.”

He added that advanced technologies are being utilized in the participating cars.

“Unlike traditional speed-based rallies, Rally Jameel focuses on navigation and strategy, offering competitors an experience that blends adventure with technical expertise.

Speaking about promoting and supporting local female racers, Bakhashab confirmed it is one of the main goals of Rally Jameel, saying: “Since it started, it is all about the empowerment of women and we are glad that through the previous editions we had so many names who are now taking their competitions into higher level around the world.”

He added: “Not just Saudi women come to race but also participants from as far away as the USA and Europe.”

According to organizers, the rally offers a unique lens for participants and attendees to experience the natural beauty and geographic diversity of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. This immersive journey not only attracts motorsport enthusiasts, but also highlights the region’s potential as a world-class destination for outdoor exploration.

With a diverse field of competitors, this edition underscores the rally’s role in uniting women from around the world through adventure, resilience, and shared passion for motorsport. It also serves as a stage for building connections across cultures, championing inclusivity, and celebrating personal breakthroughs on and off the course.