Aston Villa Take Control of Champions League Tie with Club Brugge

Aston Villa's late surge proved decisive as they defeated Club Brugge 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.

Aston Villa secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie, thanks to a late double that handed them a significant advantage. This win marked only the third time in 13 away trips that Villa has emerged victorious, and it sets them up nicely for the second leg.

Aston Villa made a blistering start, silencing the home crowd with a goal inside three minutes. Tyrone Mings redeemed himself for a previous error by heading Youri Tielemans' set piece into the mix, allowing Leon Bailey to expertly guide a half-volley into the bottom-left corner. Villa pushed for a second goal but struggled to maintain a clean sheet, having managed only one in their previous 15 competitive away matches.

Club Brugge capitalized on Villa's defensive vulnerability when Christos Tzolis received a long ball on the left and shifted it inside to Maxim De Cuyper. De Cuyper then expertly swept the ball into the far corner, leveling the score. However, Villa's late surge ultimately proved decisive, as they scored two more goals to take control of the tie.

The equalizing goal by Club Brugge reignited the enthusiasm of the home supporters, and Chemsdine Talbi soon tested Villa's defense, forcing Emiliano Martínez to make a reflex save from close range. The Blauw-Zwart maintained their pressure, dominating possession and territory, although they were unable to add another goal before halftime.

The momentum carried over into the second half, but the action was limited, with Raphael Onyedika's long-range shot being easily saved by Martínez. However, a quadruple substitution injected new life into the match, leading to opportunities for both teams. Marco Asensio found the target for Villa, while Hans Vanaken's header was spectacularly cleared by Tyrone Mings. Chemsdine Tzolis then fired over after being played through by Vanaken, but Club Brugge's fortunes soon took a turn for the worse.

A well-delivered ball from Morgan Rogers on the right flank found its way into the box, where it could have easily reached Ollie Watkins. However, Brandon Mechele intervened, inadvertently diverting the ball inside his own near post to give Villa the lead. This turning point marked the beginning of a late surge by Villa, which would ultimately seal their 3-1 victory.

Late double wins it for Aston Villa 😤#UCL pic.twitter.com/QwDYVUiNzh

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 4, 2025

The match took another decisive turn in Villa's favor when Chemsdine Tzolis' challenge on Matty Cash in the area resulted in a penalty for the visitors. Marco Asensio stepped up to convert the spot kick with confidence, scoring his fifth goal in just four appearances for Villa. This goal sealed the 3-1 victory for Villa and gave them a significant advantage heading into the second leg.

Aston Villa's impressive home record, having lost only one of their last 22 competitive matches at home, will give them confidence as they host Club Brugge in the second leg. This run includes their four league phase outings, and they will be eager to progress to the quarterfinals, where they could face either Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Club Brugge will need to replicate their impressive 3-1 play-off away win over Atalanta when they travel to Birmingham for the second leg next week.