Aston Villa took a huge step towards the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in Belgium. Late drama sealed the win for the Villans, who now take a commanding advantage into the second leg in Birmingham.
Fast Start for Aston Villa
Unai Emery’s men wasted no time making their mark on the game, taking the lead inside three minutes. Tyrone Mings, looking to atone for his error in Villa’s last visit to Belgium, rose high to meet Youri Tielemans’ set-piece delivery. His header landed perfectly for Leon Bailey, who guided a composed half-volley into the bottom-left corner to silence the home crowd.
Villa pushed for a second goal, but their defensive struggles on the road resurfaced. Despite holding just one clean sheet in 15 away matches, they could not shut out Brugge for long. The hosts responded with a well-worked equalizer as Christos Tzolis fed Maxim De Cuyper, who curled a fantastic effort past Emiliano Martínez.
Club Brugge’s Dominance Before the Break
The equalizer energized Brugge, with Chemsdine Talbi testing Villa’s goalkeeper from close range. The Belgian side took control of possession, applying constant pressure. However, despite their territorial dominance, they couldn’t find a breakthrough before halftime.
Villa’s Late Surge Seals Victory
The second half began in a cagey fashion, with few clear-cut chances. Raphael Onyedika attempted a speculative long-range effort, but it was comfortably stopped by Martínez. However, a quadruple substitution changed the tempo of the game, bringing excitement to both ends of the pitch.
Marco Asensio had an effort on target for Villa, while Hans Vanaken’s header required an acrobatic goal-line clearance from Mings. Tzolis also went close for Brugge, firing over after a clever pass from Vanaken.
But just as Brugge looked poised to snatch control, disaster struck for the hosts. Morgan Rogers whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, searching for Ollie Watkins. Instead, Brugge’s Brandon Mechele turned the ball into his net under pressure, handing Villa a crucial lead.
Minutes later, the contest was effectively sealed. Tzolis brought down Matty Cash inside the penalty area, and Asensio made no mistake from the spot, coolly converting to make it 3-1. That strike marked his fifth goal in four appearances in claret and blue, further cementing his influence in Villa’s attacking setup.
Villa in Command Ahead of Second Leg
Aston Villa head back to Birmingham in pole position to reach the last eight, boasting a strong home record. With just one loss in their last 22 competitive matches at Villa Park, they will be confident of finishing the job. Club Brugge, on the other hand, must find inspiration from their stunning 3-1 away win over Atalanta in the UCL play-offs if they hope to overturn this deficit.
BangSports– Your Ultimate Betting Partner
Looking to place your bets on thrilling Champions League action? BangSports is your go-to betting platform, offering the best odds on football matches worldwide. Whether you’re backing Aston Villa to progress or predicting a Club Brugge comeback, BangSports has you covered with competitive odds, in-play betting, and massive winnings. Don’t miss out—bet smart, bet with BangSports!
