Marco Asensio’s time at Paris St-Germain has not been particularly memorable, but he now has the chance to leave a lasting impression. The 29-year-old midfielder, currently on loan at Aston Villa, will have the opportunity to go up against his parent club in the Champions League quarterfinals. After joining Villa Park on a temporary deal from PSG in February, he has played a pivotal role in their European campaign.
On Wednesday, Asensio’s two second-half goals helped Villa secure a 3-0 victory in the second leg against Club Brugge, ensuring their place in the last eight. This result sets up a fascinating encounter with PSG, who progressed by overcoming Liverpool in a penalty shootout on Tuesday. According to UEFA regulations, loaning clubs cannot impose restrictions on players facing them in European competition, meaning Asensio is free to play and could be a decisive figure in PSG’s Champions League aspirations.
Resurgence at Aston Villa
Asensio arrived at PSG from Real Madrid in 2023, having won three Champions League titles with the Spanish giants. However, his impact in Paris was limited, registering just seven goals in 43 games over 18 months despite lifting the French league and cup trophies last season.
In contrast, his move to Aston Villa has revitalized his form. Since making his debut for the English club last month, Asensio has netted seven times, a tally surpassed only by PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé (eight) in all competitions among players in Europe’s top five leagues. His goalscoring streak includes three crucial strikes in the two-legged clash with Club Brugge.
Reflecting on his transition, Asensio expressed satisfaction with his new environment, stating, “I feel very comfortable here. I’m enjoying the team, the fans, and the city. We’ll have time to focus on the PSG game in the coming weeks.” He also praised Villa’s home support, saying, “The atmosphere in every match is fantastic. We’re aiming for more, and we need to keep working towards our objectives.”
Emery and experts weigh in
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has been cautious about confirming whether the club will seek to make Asensio’s move permanent but acknowledged the impact he has had. “We’re happy with him,” Emery said. “We have been careful with his fitness because he’s not at 100%, but he was feeling good and wanted to start. He played a fantastic 45 minutes, took responsibility, and made a real difference.”
Former England defender Matt Upson described Asensio as a world-class talent, believing he will play a crucial role in Villa’s run-in. European football journalist Julien Laurens suggested that Emery may see him as an impact substitute for now, a role Asensio appears content with as he continues to impress.
Loan players facing parent clubs
Asensio’s situation is not unique. Earlier this season, Aston Villa’s Samuel Iling-Junior played against them while on loan at Bologna in the Champions League group stage. In previous years, Thibaut Courtois was allowed to play for Atletico Madrid against Chelsea in the 2013-14 semi-finals despite the Blues’ attempts to impose a financial barrier. UEFA ruled that any agreement restricting loan players from competing against their parent clubs was invalid.
A notable precedent in England came in 2004 when Portsmouth’s Lomana LuaLua scored a late equalizer against Newcastle United while on loan from the Magpies. The incident led the Premier League to introduce a rule preventing such matchups in domestic competitions. However, no such restriction applies in the Champions League, leaving Asensio free to try and make PSG regret letting him go.
