For more than 150 years, Aston Villa has been a prominent figure in English football.  Despite finishing seventh in the Premier League and not being among the top teams in British football right now, the club is a respected institution with a rich history that distinguishes it from many others.

A group of cricket players, including John Hughes, William Price, George Matthews, and William Scattergood, attempted to broaden their horizons by taking up a new sport in 1874, a century and a half ago.  After debating between rugby and football, they decided that rugby was “too physical” to embrace the beautiful game.

As a result, Aston Villa Football Club was established, and in 1885 it became a professional team.  Three years later, the team participated in the first English championship, placing second behind Preston and first ahead of Wolverhampton.  Aston Villa has won the championship seven times over the years, most recently in 1981 and first in 1894.

In 1982, Aston Villa accomplished a spectacular accomplishment by defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the European Cup final, marking a historic milestone for the club.  Together with West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City FC, this triumph cemented their status as one of Birmingham’s top clubs.  One hundred years after being one of the original members of the English league, Aston Villa was also instrumental in the creation of the Premier League in 1992.

Aston Villa has seen a range of highs and lows since then, spending a few years in the second level from 2016 to 2019.  Under the direction of former Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery, they did, however, manage to finish in a solid fourth position the previous season, which has restored their reputation and guaranteed them a spot in the Champions League again.  Their home field, Villa Park, has played a significant role in their comeback.

Villa Park, which can accommodate 48,000 people, serves as a stronghold for the home team.  Villa has only lost one of its 16 Premier League home games this season, and that was against Arsenal in August 2024.  Despite suffering losses in the League Cup, the Villans had four wins and a draw at home in the Champions League, including a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich.

Although the French champions may find solace in their 3-1 triumph in the first leg, knowing that even a slim loss might send them to the semifinals, Paris Saint-Germain faces a real struggle here.  Luis Enrique is excited about the chance to play in a historic stadium and hopes to further inscribe his team’s name in football history.