Club Brugge vs Aston Villa LIVE: Champions League result and final score as two late goals turn tie around
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa: A late own goal and Marco Asensio penalty put Unai Emery’s side in charge of the last-16 tie
Aston Villa earned a 3-1 win away to Club Brugge in their Champions League last-16 first leg in Belgium, thanks to an own goal and a penalty kick in the final eight minutes.
Villa were in front in the third minute when Leon Bailey fired a first-time shot into the bottom corner but the hosts were level nine minutes later through Maxim De Cuyper.
The tie appeared to be heading for a draw until Brandon Mechele put the ball into his own net eight minutes from time and with two minutes left Marco Asensio converted from the penalty spot.
The sides will meet again at Villa Park next Wednesday for the second leg, to decide who will face either Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals. Follow all the Champions League reaction with our live blog below:
Emery on Club Brugge
Of tonight’s opponents the Villa boss added: "We know their capacity, their potential. We know how competitive they are.
“It's a really good challenge for us to play against a team that beat us. It's an exciting moment in our season."
Pre-match thoughts from Unai Emery
The Aston Villa coach said: "I am focusing on each match, each moment.
“A win is the consequence, it's not the aim; it's all about the process. It is always my focus.
“If you are thinking [too far ahead] you will lose the way, and you are not getting there."
Emery's European pedigree
Aston Villa will be the fourth different team Unai Emery has managed in the knockout stages of the Champions League, following Valencia, Paris SG and Villarreal.
Only three managers have ever done so in charge of more than four: Carlo Ancelotti (6), José Mourinho (6) and Claudio Ranieri (5).
Three in a row?
Club Brugge won both legs against Atalanta in the play-off round (2-1 at home, 3-1 away).
Only once previously have they won three consecutive games in the Champions League – in September/October 2022 under Carl Hoefkens (3).
Knockout round woes
This will be Club Brugge's first knockout tie against English opposition in European competition since losing 6-1 on aggregate to Manchester United in the Europa League Last 32 in February 2020.
Brugge vs English opponents
Across European competition, Club Brugge have won just one of their last 16 games against English opposition (D3 L12), conceding 42 goals during that time.
The Belgian side's only victory in that time did come against Aston Villa, however, 1-0 in this season's league phase.
Villa versus Belgian opposition
Aston Villa have faced Belgian opposition five times before in European competition, winning just one of those encounters (D1 L3), a 1-0 victory vs Anderlecht in the European Cup in April 1982.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa team news and line-ups
No place for Marco Asensio
Unai Emery makes four changes from Friday’s win over Cardiff in the FA Cup, the headline being Marco Asensio dropping to the bench despite his double in the 2-0 victory.
Asensio is replaced by Morgan Rogers, who starts in a front four of Leon Bailey, Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins.
With John McGinn and Youri Tielemans in midfield, there’s three changes to the defence with Axel Disasi, Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne coming in.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa team news and line-ups
Club Brugge XI: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
Subs: Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spileers, Campbell
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Disasi, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Torres, Asensio, Maatsen, Bogarde, Ramsey, Kamara
Your Aston Villa team to face Club Brugge 🟣#UCL || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/HZdHfybDD2
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 4, 2025
'Villa can make history'
“Of course, we’re in the competitions, we are contenders to win every competition we’re in,” John McGinn said. “In certain competitions we are more fancied than others.
“But of course, being in the competition, we are contenders, and going towards the end of the season, it’s brilliant that we’ve got so much to look forward to.
“We’ve got an opportunity to make some history, but (there’s) a long, long way to go in each competition.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments