MARCUS Rashford returns to Paris Saint-Germain with Aston Villa at 9pm on Wednesday seeking a hat-trick of wins at the home of the French champions, while Marco Asensio can hurt his parent club.
The two players have impressed since signing on loan for Unai Emery’s span in the January transfer window, scoring a combined 11 goals in all competitions.
Villa head to Paris in buoyant mood on the back of seven straight wins in all competitions – they are sixth in the Premier League and face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals later this month.
Rashford will have a spring in his step after twice playing a pivotal role in securing victories for boyhood club Manchester United at PSG’s Parc des Princes.
This time the England winger, who has previously been linked with a move to PSG, will be wearing a different kit after leaving Old Trafford under a cloud.
The rejuvenated forward, who has provided a number of assists, scored his first league goal for Villa against Brighton last week, three days after netting twice in the 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win against Preston.
Emery, who managed PSG from 2016 to 2018, said Rashford, also recalled by England manager Thomas Tuchel last month, was on the right track.
There is still uncertainty over whether the 27-year-old will remain at Villa Park next season, but for now he has his sights set on winning the Champions League with his new club – something he never managed at United.
Emery says: “He’s recovering confidence himself playing football, being focused only on football, being with his teammates comfortable as well, identifying and understanding our style, our demands. Everything with him is progressively getting better.”
Asensio, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, has been a revelation at Villa Park, scoring eight goals in 11 appearances, including three in the last-16 as Villa defeated Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate.
The 29-year-old has already scored more goals under compatriot Emery in two months than he managed in the whole of his spell with PSG, whom he joined in 2023.
Asensio can play because Uefa’s rules state that clubs cannot apply “any influence over the players that another club may [or may not] field in a match”.