PSG Star Kvaratskhelia Scores Beautiful Goal, Affirms Nicknamed Kvaradona

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a beautiful goal when PSG beat Aston Villa (Instagram/@psg).

JAKARTA - A beautiful goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia beat a brilliant curling shot from his teammate Desire Doue as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Thursday, April 10, 2025, early morning WIB.

The pair of beautiful goals made PSG coach Luis Enrique praised the two players after the match that made his team one step in the semifinals.

However, between Doue and Kvaratskhelia's goals, there is no doubt that Kvaratskhelia's goal was the best that night.

"For a coach like me, it's great to have a player like Kvaratskhelia, with his mentality. He scored brilliant goals."

"We tried to sign him last summer and didn't work. We recruited him (in January 2025) when we didn't really expect him. He has everything to be part of our project," Luis Enrique said of Kvaratskhelia.

The beautiful goal in question is when Kvaratskhelia runs fast on the left side of the midfield line and then destroys Villa's defense at foot speeds and a tremendous balance.

Moving fast with a ball that seemed to stick to his right leg, he then outwitted defender Axel Disasi with a sudden change of direction, before rolling the ball into his left foot with one fine move and firing an unstoppable shot over the head of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The goal put PSG ahead 2-1 after Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the 35th minute and then Doue equalized four minutes later.

Kvaratskhelia's goal came four minutes after the break and left-back Nuno Mendes added a third goal in injury time with a good finish.

"I think this result reflects the differences between us and them. Our goal is to control the ball and attack aggressively," said Luis Enrique, whose team had greater firepower and showed more threats in attack.

Interestingly, Kvaratskhelia's goal made the Georgian winger affirm the nickname Kvaradona that had been awarded while he was still playing for Napoli.

The nickname referred to football mogul Diego Maradona - the greatest player in Napoli - and prompted Luis Enrique to spend 70 million euros on the winter transfer market.

Meanwhile, shortly after Kvaratskhelia's goal, Martinez made a major low-side save on his right side against Achraf Hakimi's powerful shot as PSG came forward to find a third goal.

Villa are in the Champions League quarter-finals phase for the first time since 1983. They can actually cope with the initial pressure well before leading with a goal that is done well.

Captain John McGinn is agile in winning the ball in midfield and ahead before baiting Marcus Rashford, the striker who scored in injury time for Manchester United six years ago.

Rashford fed It to Youri Tielemans who overlapped on the left and he crossed into the back post, where Rogers, who was not guarded, managed to take advantage of it.

The advantage was only for a moment because Doue equalized the duo after picking up the ball on the left side of the penalty area, passing through two players, and releasing the ball into the top right corner.

"He has everything he needs to be a great player. He really doesn't need much space to dribble," Luis Enrique said of Doue.

The Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Aston Villa vs PSG will take place next week at Villa Park.