It was still quiet outside Villa Park three hours before kick- off. The half-and-half scarf sellers and pin badges stalls were still being set up while those who had arrived early for hospitality hung around waiting for the stadium to open.

Reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League would be a remarkable achievement for Villa, who were still playing in the Championship six years ago, and a clash with PSG, who defeated Liverpool in the last-16, would set up a special end to the season.