Hosts self-destruct to put Unai Emery’s men in command

Aston Villa have command of their Champions League last-16 tie with Club Brugge after a bewildering self-destruction from the Belgian side handed Unai Emery’s men a 3-1 first-leg victory.

Villa had taken the lead through Leon Bailey’s third-minute effort, only for the reigning Belgian champions to respond nine minutes later through Maxim De Cuyper.

Having torn Atalanta apart in the playoff round, Brugge continued in the ascendancy after levelling matters and spurned multiple chances to take a lead to Villa Park next week.

But the reigning Belgian champions now have it all to do after Brandon Mechele put through his own net and Marco Asensio confidently converted a penalty to put Villa on the brink of the a quarter-final tie with Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain.

Villa lead 3-1 AWAY in Brugge!! ⚡️⚡️

Substitute Marco Asensio nets and puts Aston Villa in a GREAT position in the tie… 🙌

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025

Club Brugge vs Aston Villa

Villa scored from the game’s first opportunity as Bailey met Tyrone Mings’ knockdown from Youri Tielemans’ free-kick with a superb first-time finish beyond Simon Mignolet and into the bottom-right corner.

Marcus Rashford was then denied by Mignolet as Villa sought to double their advantage, but they were soon pegged back, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez perhaps at fault.

Christos Tzolis collected the ball wide on the left and had the time and space to pick out De Cuyper, whose left-foot shot had enough to beat Martinez’ outstretched hand.

Martinez redeemed himself with a fine close-range save from Chemsdine Talbi to preserve parity as Brugge grew in confidence before half-time.

A frustrated Unai Emery made four changes in the 64th minute in a bid to wrest back the momentum, and only the reflexes of Mignolet prevented one of Villa’s substitutes, Matty Cash, from putting them back in front.

But Brugge continued to dictate proceedings, with Hans Vanaken seeing a far-post header somehow drift wide before Tzolis blasted high, wide and not very handsome after being played clean through on goal.

Brugge ultimately paid the price for their profligacy as Mechele showed much greater cutting edge, albeit at the wrong end.

OWN GOAL!! 🫣

Disaster for Mechele and Brugge, as Aston Villa take the lead away from home! 💥

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025

He inadvertently turned Morgan Rogers’ brilliant cross beyond a despairing Mignolet in the 82nd minute.

Worse was to come six minutes later when Asensio fired into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards after Tzolis brought down Cash with a clumsy challenge.

Crestfallen by their late collapse, Brugge did have an opportunity to redress the balance in injury time. However, substitute Hugo Vetlesen summed up a dispiriting evening for the hosts when he blazed over to ensure Villa will head back to the Midlands with a potentially decisive two-goal advantage.