Aston Villa Ends Club Brugge’s Fairy-Tale Season

Aston Villa took a huge step toward the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 3-1 victory over Club Brugge on Belgian soil. Overturning a two-goal deficit in Birmingham will be a daunting challenge for the hosts.

High-Intensity Start in Brugge

The match got off to a lightning-fast start, with both teams throwing caution to the wind. Aston Villa took the lead just three minutes in when Youri Tielemans delivered a precise free-kick into the box, Tyrone Mings nodded it onwards, and Leon Bailey reacted quickly to slot the ball into the net. But the Belgian side responded just nine minutes later—Christos Tzolis broke free on the left, squared it for Bjorn De Kuiper, and the midfielder slotted the ball into the far bottom corner past Emiliano Martínez to level the score.

Second-Half Tactical Tweaks Make the Difference

Following the equalizer, both sides fought for control, but clear-cut chances were scarce. The match took a significant turn after Unai Emery made four substitutions in the 64th minute. Just four minutes later, Jacob Ramsey and Marco Asensio combined well, forcing Simon Mignolet into a crucial save.

Moments later, Club Brugge nearly regained the lead. Hans Vanaken met a Tzolis cross with a powerful header, but the ball whistled past the far post. Shortly after, Tzolis found himself through on goal but blazed his effort over the bar.

Late Drama Seals Villa’s Victory

With just eight minutes left, the Belgian side’s night unraveled in dramatic fashion. Brandon Mechele, attempting to cut out a cross from Jaden Philogene, inadvertently sent the ball into the top corner of his own net. And six minutes later, Tzolis completed a personal nightmare, miscontrolling the ball inside the box before clattering into Matty Cash. The referee pointed to the spot, and Asensio calmly converted the penalty to give Aston Villa a commanding 3-1 lead ahead of the second leg at Villa Park.

2024-25 UEFA Champions League

Club Brugge - Aston Villa 1:3 (1:1)
Goals: Bailey, 3 (0:1); De Cuyper, 12 (1:1); Mechele, 82 (own goal) (1:2); Asensio, 88 (penalty) (1:3)

Club Brugge: Mignolet; De Cuyper; Mechele; Ordonez J.; Sabbe (Skóraś, 90); Vanaken; Jutgla (Nilsson G., 86); Onyedika (Vetlesen, 90); Jashari; Talbi (Siquet, 86); Tzolis
Bench: Jackers; Romero; Spileers; Nielsen C.M.; Campbell S.; Vermant

Aston Villa: Martinez E.; Digne; Disasi (Cash, 64); Konsa; Mings; McGinn J. (Ramsey J., 64); Tielemans; Watkins (Bogarde L., 91); Bailey (Kamara B., 64); Rogers M.; Rashford (Asensio, 64)
Bench: Zych; Olsen R.; Maatsen I.; Torres Pau