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Emery backs 'mature' Martinez after latest hat prank

PSG v Aston Villa (Wed, 20:00 BST)

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is backing "mature" goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to handle the hostile reception he is expected to receive in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain.

Martinez angered France supporters with his antics during the penalty shootout win in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, when his save from Kingsley Coman helped Argentina to victory.

He then showed off a Kylian Mbappe doll during the homecoming victory parade in Buenos Aires.

And on Tuesday he was pictured wearing a cap with a French cockerel alongside images of Argentina's recent triumphs as he embarked on the journey to Paris for the quarter-final first leg at Parc des Princes.

Martinez's latest actions, under the microscope at the pre-match media briefing with Emery, are likely to turn up the heat even further on the 32-year-old before the meeting with PSG.

Read the full story here.

'Delighted he can play' - PSG relish loanee Asensio's return

PSG v Aston Villa (Wed, 20:00 BST)

Paris St-Germain are enjoying a season to remember - but know one of the biggest dangers to fulfilling their ultimate dream could be a player currently on their books.

Fresh from retaining the Ligue 1 title, the French side host Aston Villa in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, facing the unusual prospect of coming up against one of their own in Marco Asensio.

The 29-year-old Spain forward joined Villa on loan from PSG in January and has been a revelation, with eight goals and one assist in his 11 games for the Villans.

Asensio's form has helped Unai Emery's men enjoy a seven-match winning run, during which they have booked spots in the FA Cup semi-final and Champions League last eight.

They are also within touching distance of the Premier League top five and qualification for next season's Champions League.

Read here for the full story.

Emery & Enrique renew rivalries after 'La Remontada'

Paris St-Germain v Aston Villa (20:00 GMT)

Unai Emery won seven trophies in his two-year spell at Paris St-Germain, but his time there was marked by a remarkable capitulation against Luis Enrique's Barcelona in the Champions League that is referred to as "La Remontada" (the Comeback).

Emery's PSG thrashed Barca 4-0 in the first leg of their 2016-17 Champions League last-16 tie and looked on course to contend for a maiden Champions League title.

But their dream turned into a nightmare as the Parisians were beaten 6-1 in a controversial return leg at the Camp Nou.

The La Liga outfit were 5-3 down on aggregate with two minutes of normal time remaining, but scored three goals before the end of stoppage time to win one of the greatest European ties of all time.

Emery returns to Paris with Aston Villa tonight to take on his former side and lock horns with Enrique for the first time since that eventful night in Barcelona.

Can Villa follow Arsenal's lead in the Champions League?

Switching to Europe's elite cup competition, Arsenal have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after their brilliant 3-0 win against Real Madrid in the first leg at Emirates Stadium last night.

But the Gunners are not the only Premier League side who have set their sights on being crowned European champions.

Aston Villa face a challenging trip to Parc des Princes tonight to face recently-crowned Ligue 1 champions Paris St-Germain, who are considered one of the favourites for the title this season.

Under cup specialist Unai Emery, Villa will be hoping to set the foundations for what could be a famous win against the Parisians tonight.

Which British sides are in Europa League quarter-finals?

There are, of course, three British clubs in action in the last eight of the Europa League on Thursday.

Like Tottenham, Manchester United have been struggling for form domestically and will be hoping to redeem their season by adding a European trophy to their cabinet.

Ruben Amorim's United make the trip to face Lyon on Thursday in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

Scottish side Rangers, meanwhile, are up against Athletic Club of Spain in their bid to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

'He has the attributes to be a real top player'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Wales manager Craig Bellamy told Sky Sports that Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson has "all the attributes to be a real top player" after the 23-year-old scored a brace against Southampton.

Johnson has now scored 16 times for Spurs this season, although Sunday's double was his first home goals in 2025, while he also struggled up front for Wales in recent World Cup qualifiers.

"We showed him a lot of Raheem Sterling's finishing, with a focus on his positioning," said Wales manager Craig Bellamy on the recent international camp. "We showed him this at the start of September when we first met up.

"I'm really big on that with the wingers. I expect the winger on the opposite side to be on the back post. It's very difficult for full-backs [to mark] but also with his running ability, there is no excuse for him not to be onto the back post."

Of his 11 goals in the Premier League, 10 of them have been scored from one-touch finishes with a shot conversation of 31%. For Wales, Johnson has scored five goals in 35 appearances

Bellamy added: "I class him as a young player. I would definitely class him in the development stage and there is loads that he can improve on. I believe he has the attributes to be a real top player, now it's to see where he wants to take it.

"I think he has that mindset but now it's games, confidence, and then I believe we will see a lot more from him."

'We want to win it for everyone at the club'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

A final word from Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson on whether the players want to win the Europa League for under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou: "Of course, we want to win for everyone at the club - us players, the manager and all the backroom staff who have been through some tough times this season.

"It's down to our own mistakes. There were a lot of games we have not performed good enough. Winning this competition would be great and it would be an unbelievable feeling to win.

"We don't want to look too far past this game, but for us to win it for everyone at the club will be massive.

"I don't really care about what other people and the critics are saying. I love all the players in the squad, the management staff.

"We've created a really tightknit group. It's something that we just want to do for each other because we have had some tough times and there would be no better joy to celebrate it with people who have gone through it."

'I've loved every second at the club'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson on scoring his first goals - for club and country - in nine matches against Southampton, to take his season tally to 18: "[My goal tally] is something that I'm definitely proud of. The aim was to always score more this year at the start of the season. There's a lot of work that goes into it.

"I am happy for [former club] Nottingham Forest and the season they are having, but I'm delighted to be here [after signing for Tottenham last season].

"I have loved every second. The size of the club, people within the club and the fans are all something that I could only have wished for when younger."

'It's not about giving people free goals' - Johnson on penalty incident

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson on the penalty incident with Mathys Tel: "All of us attacking players, if there is a chance to score from 12 yards without being contested, anyone would want to take it. But once the decision has been made, it isn't in my nature to argue or have a fight about who takes it.

"I've been in situations where people are really reluctant to let someone else have a penalty and it can put you off. Once the ball was with Mathys, I just wanted to support him. He is a quality player as well so it's not like I am doubting his quality. As soon as the ball was put in his hands, I backed him to score.

"I agree [with Ange Postecoglou on people making too much from the penalty incident]. I think we're going to go into competitions where it could go down to penalties. And there is so much on the line. It's about who is feeling most confident and who is performing the best. In this tournament, it's not really about giving people free goals, it's about scoring goals.

"If we get an opportunity to increase our lead or get a goal back, we have to make sure we need to score. So I agree with what he said."

'Even if we win it, I am gone anyway'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

A final word from Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on why winning the Europa League might not win over his critics: "I came to this club with a clear purpose of rejuvenating a squad that was coming to the end of a cycle. Whatever noise there is, now or in the future, that shouldn't diminish that desire. Everything in my professional life has come through a struggle.

"Hopefully we have worked our way in to a position where we can make an impact for during what has been a disappointing season for us. I just think there's a real determination to take this opportunity.

"I just think you can't win the argument of convincing people. Even if we win [the Europa League], I am gone anyway. That's just the general sentiment of the people. If you try to use that as a motivation, you are not going to win anyway. It's got to be something more in it for us. For us, what's most important is that we have been through a tough time but we are still in a position to make an impact."

'Legs are getting stronger in areas we need them to'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

More team news from Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou: "We have been OK, but it's been disruptive. We have had to juggle getting players game time and also resting some at different times so that we can get to a position where we have a fairly fit and strong squad to tackle what is ahead.

"The first half of the weekend in training was really good. The legs are getting stronger in the areas that we need them to."

Tottenham's recent quarter-final record

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Ange was unclear about Tottenham's European record in quarter-finals, so let's bring you up to speed.

Tottenham have won the European Cup Winners' Cup and twice won the Uefa Cup, the forerunner to the Europa League.

They also reached the final of the 2018–19 Champions League, losing to Liverpool.

This is Tottenham's first European quarter-final since that run to the Champions League final, when they beat Manchester City on the away goals rule in the last eight.

That tie brought Spurs' only win - when Son Heung-min scored the only goal for Spurs of the first leg at home - in their last 13 quarter-final matches in Europe (D6 L6).

'We need to make sure we make the most of it'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on facing Eintracht Frankfurt: "I am not sure how many times the club has been in the quarter-finals of a European competition. So every time you get in there, you cannot take it for granted and you want to make the most of it.

"It's going to be a tough game tomorrow. Frankfurt are a good side and are going well in the Bundesliga. They got a mixture of exciting young players but also some experience in there.

"It will be a good challenge but when you get to the last eight of European competition, that's what you expect to face."

'Hope we can get the crowd going again tomorrow'

Tottenham v Eintracht Frankfurt (Thu, 20:00 BST)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou emphasised the importance of the home support going into their Europa League quarter-final after Eintracht Frankfurt: "It's hugely important. With every European game, you are watching last night or watching tonight, the atmosphere makes a big impact. It's a big part of European football. A lot of teams that have success in Europe are on the back of a really strong home atmosphere.

"We hope it's the same for us tomorrow. We hope we can get the crowd going again.

"We have had nice atmospheres at home this year. The European nights have been good and the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool was good. We need that again tomorrow night.

"It's a big part of helping the clubs get an advantage in what are always tight ties."

We asked you what nobody is talking about at Tottenham but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Dan: There is actually a decent spine in the Spurs team. Guglielmo Vicario at 28 is young for a keeper. Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are all under 25 and all look very comfortable in the Premier League. We also still have (untested) Ash Phillips, Alejo Veliz, Alfie Devine and Jamie Donley so there's something for the right manager to work with. Sadly, as much as I like the bloke, Ange just tactically isn't it. Even trying to close the game out against Southampton, it nearly went wrong.

Richard: We should be talking about how good our squad of players are when all fit. We now have two decent options for all positions (except centre forward and holding midfield ). That is something Daniel Levy should be given credit for putting in place over the past couple of years along with our amazing stadium. Those demanding a new ownership and chairman should be careful what they wish for.

Yaw: The fact that we've got a double-digit positive goal difference. This season, when we've won, we've won big.

Will: I think Ben Davies deserves more recognition. He's been at the club since 2014 with over 300 appearances and has never put a foot wrong and has always been consistent, something I think is underappreciated.

Paul: Chris Davies. I think Ange has missed his input. His impressive success at Birmingham has shown what Tottenham are missing out on this season.

Two very contrasting styles. Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou was calm throughout - he would pick a spot on the edge of his box and stay there for a few minutes. There was hardly any shouting, just the occasional gesture of frustration when a pass was misplaced.

The most animated he became, maybe predictably, was when VAR got involved for a decision to wipe out a second Spurs goal that took four minutes to conclude. That was the only time he moved for any length of time, as his frustration grew.

At one stage in the delay he appeared to play a rock, paper, scissors game - highlighting the unpredictable, random nature of VAR decisions.

Southampton's Ivan Juric could not stop moving, constantly pacing up and down the line. There were only 47 seconds on the clock when he was told by fourth official Sam Barrott to get back in the area.

Juric treated the technical area as optional, spending more time out of it than in, often crouching down, repeatedly shouting instructions but all to no avail as the Saints were relegated to the Championship. Juric left the club the following day.

Wolves are unbeaten in their last four league games against Tottenham (W3 D1), last having a longer run between May 1968 and February 1970 (5).

Tottenham have lost their last two away league games against Wolves, as many as in their previous 12 (W8 D2). They last lost three consecutive league visits to Molineux between 1964 and 1968.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have won each of their last three Premier League games – with no side currently enjoying a longer ongoing winning run in the competition. Wolves last won four successive matches in the top-flight in January 1972.

Only the bottom two sides, Southampton (13) and Leicester (11), have lost more Premier League away games this season than Tottenham Hotspur (9). Not since 2008-09 have Spurs lost more away league games in a single campaign (11), while they last lost as many as 10 of their opening 16 matches on the road in a league season in 2003-04 (11).

Since Vítor Pereira’s first game in charge in December, only five sides have won more Premier League games than Wolves (7). They’ve won as many of his 15 league games in charge as predecessor Gary O’Neil managed in his final 34 (7).

No sides have seen more goals in their Premier League games this season than both Tottenham Hotspur (103 – 58 for, 45 against) and Wolves (102 – 43 for, 59 against). Indeed, only table-topping Liverpool (72) have scored more goals than Spurs (58) in the division this term, while only the current bottom three sides have conceded more than Wolves (59).

Excluding penalties, only Leicester City and Liverpool (both 4) have scored fewer goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season than Wolves (5), who have also conceded a league-high 20 goals from non-penalty set plays in the division this term.

Jørgen Strand Larsen has scored in each of Wolves’ last three Premier League games (4 goals); the only player to score in 4+ consecutive appearances in the competition for the club is Henri Camara, who scored in five in a row from March to April 2004.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Brennan Johnson has 11 Premier League goals this season; the only Welsh players to score more in a 38-game season in the competition are John Hartson (15 in 1997-98), Nathan Blake (12 in 1997-98), Craig Bellamy (13 in 2005-06), and Gareth Bale (21 in 2012-13).

Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke leads all players in the Premier League this season for both pressures applied in the final third (496) and off-the-ball runs into the opposition’s box (273), with Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen behind him in second for the latter (262).

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has said Brennan Johnson is a "constant goal threat" after he scored twice in Spurs' 3-1 win over Southampton on Sunday.

Johnson, 23, has now scored 16 times for Spurs this season, although Sunday's double were his first home goals in 2025.

"I was really pleased for him, not just goals but his general [play] was really good," said Postecoglou. "He's important for us. As a wide player, there aren't many around that are a constant goal threat like he is.

"With Brennan, he's always in the areas we need him to be. He's probably one of the most disciplined players we have in terms of making sure he's always in the right positions and that's why he gets his goals."

He has made 28 Premier League appearances this season and is currently Tottenham's leading goalscorer in the league with 11.

In all competitions, Johnson has netted 16 goals.

"There have been times this season when his form has suffered because of the team more than anything else," added Postecoglou.

"I think like we played in the first half, Brennan becomes a really important player for us as we're a constant threat, breaking lines [and] making half-space runs. We were getting balls into the box in the areas we need to and every time we went forward we looked like scoring."

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What does Chiesa have to do to be given a run out? Salah and Gapko have been anonymous. We're getting stuffed, give the man a chance.

We need to have a discussion about the Premier League being "the best league in the world". Liverpool have been average for a while now; their League Cup final and Champions League round of 16 performances can attest to that, and yet they're still walking the league. Yes the top 4 race is semi-exciting, but the title and relegation is wrapped up 8 games from the end of the season... there's very little jeopardy in this league and it's like this most seasons.

Hundreds of Tottenham fans took part in a protest showing their anger at the club's board and owners on Sunday, and calling for chairman Daniel Levy "to get out of our club".

The demonstration happened before Spurs' Premier League match at home to Southampton, with Ange Postecoglou's side 16th in the table after a disappointing campaign.

The protest was organised by the Change For Tottenham group, with fans able to buy flags and scarves, profits from the sales of which will be donated to The Tottenham Food Bank and Noah's Children's Hospice.

"Time for change," was the message on the flags, while some scarves said 'Enough is enough, Enic Out!".

The Enic Group, a British investment company, took over Tottenham in 2001.

"Built a business, killed a football club," was written on another flag.

The fans' chants included "We want Levy out," and "Daniel Levy, get out of our club." A third chant included the lines: "We don't care about Levy, he don't care about me, all I care about is [Dejan] Kulusevski."

The new stadium has hosted a number of NFL and rugby matches, as well as concerts, and fans believe Levy's priority is hosting major events instead of building a successful football team.

"Can Beyonce play in defence?" was one chant from the supporters, while another was "Guns 'n' Roses, stick them up front."

"Many lifelong Tottenham supporters feel alienated by the club's ownership and direction," said Change For Tottenham.

The fan-led group says its frustration is "primarily aimed" at owners Enic and Levy "whose tenure has been marked by financial growth but, in the eyes of many, sporting decline".

Change For Tottenham added: "The New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a state of the art facility, but at what cost? Ticket prices are among the highest in the Premier League, forcing many fans, some of whom have supported Spurs for decades, to give up their season tickets or attend fewer games.

"For years the team has lacked investment in key areas, particularly in defence, while transfer windows have felt reactive instead of proactive. The result? Another trophy-less season looms, extending a drought that has lasted since 2008."

There are set to be more protests before and during the match, with fans urged to hold up their protest scarves and flags before the game, then again in the 24th minute, to mark 24 years of Enic ownership, and again in the 61st minute, representing the fact the club were last English champions in 1961.

It was almost a big week for Southampton, who would have surpassed the Premier League's record-lowest points total, currently held by Robbie Savage's Derby County, if they had held on to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

They came agonisingly close and in many ways I would take a Saints victory here, just so I can enjoy hosting 606 with Robbie between now and the end of the season.

You will probably all have heard him recently, banging on about what a job he has done to take big-budget Macclesfield to promotion from the Northern Premier League, but I'd like to balance things a little bit with him hanging on to his record.

I can't see Southampton taking three points here, though, even if the two other teams in the bottom three have already gone to Tottenham and won.

Spurs won 5-0 at St Mary's before Christmas, in Russell Martin's final game as Saints boss.

Ange Postecoglou's side are not playing well, so they won't score as many this time, but it should still be very comfortable for them and they might even keep a clean sheet.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0