Unai Emery's Aston Villa have a lead to defend next week after securing a 3-1 win over Club Brugge at Jan Breydelstadion in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday evening.
The visitors lost 1-0 on the road to the Blauw-Zwart in the league phase back in November, but they were off to a perfect start when Leon Bailey scored his first ever goal in the competition with just three minutes on the clock.
However, academy-graduate left-back Maxim De Cuyper marked his 100th appearance for Nicky Hayen's side by netting an equaliser just moments later with a precise finish beyond an outstretched Emiliano Martinez, and the hosts had the better of the first half from that point on.
The second period opened with a stagnant first 15 minutes, but the Villans made major changes just beyond the hour mark when they substituted on all four of Jacob Ramsey, Marco Asensio, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara.
Within moments of those alterations, the match sprung into life: Asensio had a shot saved by Simon Mignolet before Cash fired the rebound over the bar; Tyrone Mings spectacularly prevented a certain goal when he deflected Hans Vanaken's header just wide of the post, and Christos Tzolis missed a one-on-one chance.
It took until the final 10 minutes for the stalemate to be broken, and despite the attacking strength on display, it was FCB centre-back Brandon Mechele that scored an own goal to put Villa in front, and Asensio doubled his side's lead from the penalty spot with two minutes left on the clock.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Club Brugge came into the game with confidence having beaten Atalanta home and away with a 5-2 aggregate scoreline in the Champions League playoff round, not to mention the fact that they had lost just one of their last seven matches across all competitions ahead of Tuesday's clash.
Additionally, the hosts had scored in all but two of the games they had played in 2024-25 prior to kick off, and Hayen will be pleased with the character his men showed to build on their strong goalscoring record when they struck back within nine minutes of the opener.
However, the Belgian champions will be devastated after losing the game so late, though they may take heart from the fact that they were the better side, and still feel capable of progressing next Wednesday.
As for Villa, they only tasted defeat in one of their six fixtures leading up to their trip to Belgium, but they have been struggling for wins in the Premier League since the turn of the year, and were on the receiving end of a 4-1 thrashing by Crystal Palace in their most recent top-flight game.
On Tuesday evening, the visitors were not at their best once again and were lucky to win, but while Emery will be unhappy with the way that his team gave up the lead so quickly, he will be delighted to go into the second leg at Villa Park with a two-goal lead to defend despite his team being second-best for long periods in Belgium.
It is also notable that the manager's substitutes contributed hugely to the win, with Cash winning the penalty and Asensio scoring it under pressure.
CLUB BRUGGE VS. ASTON VILLA HIGHLIGHTS
Leon Bailey goal vs. Club Brugge (3rd min, Club Brugge 0-1 Aston Villa)
ALREADY!? 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025
Leon Bailey gives Aston Villa the lead WITHIN 3 minutes with a LOVELY strike! 🔝⚽️
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Youri Tielemans plays a free kick into the box from near the centre circle that finds Tyrone Mings, who heads the ball back towards the edge of the area where Leon Bailey runs onto the ball and fires an excellently controlled half-volley into the bottom-left corner of the net.
Villa have an early lead!
Maxim De Cuyper goal vs. Aston Villa (12th min, Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa)
BACK LEVEL! ⚔️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025
De Cuyper levels the scoring and we still have over 75 minutes to play!! 🤩
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FCB play a pass over the top to winger Christos Tzolis, who does well to control the ball and lay off the ball to left-back Maxim De Cuyper, who slots home with a precise, curling finish into the bottom-right corner from the left-hand side of the box.
Two goals in the first 15 minutes - game on!
69th min: Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) goal-preventing touch
BEST GOAL-LINE CLEARANCE EVER??? 😱
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025
Tyrone Mings stops Hans Vanaken from giving Brugge the lead in SPECTACULAR style 🤯
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Brandon Mechele own goal vs. Club Brugge (82nd min, Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa)
OWN GOAL!! 🫣
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025
Disaster for Mechele and Brugge, as Aston Villa take the lead away from home! 💥
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Morgan Rogers fires a cross into the box from the right-hand side of the pitch, and centre-back Brandon Mechele stretches out in an attempt to clear it but puts the ball past Mignolet.
An own goal gives Villa the lead!
Marco Asensio goal vs. Club Brugge (88th min, Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa)
Villa lead 3-1 AWAY in Brugge!! ⚡️⚡️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025
Substitute Marco Asensio nets and puts Aston Villa in a GREAT position in the tie... 🙌
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Tzolis fails to control the ball in his own box and is pounced upon by Villa right-back Cash, who goes down when he feels contact from the Brugge forward and gets a penalty!
Mignolet gets close, but Asensio slots the spot kick powerfully into the bottom-left corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - TYRONE MINGS
© Imago
The centre-back had a poor game back in November when Villa were beaten by Brugge, but he made amends on Tuesday evening by helping to create Bailey's opener and preventing the hosts from taking the lead with a vital goal-saving touch.
The fact that Emery's side went on to score twice after Mings's clearance highlighted just how important his contribution was, and with a lead to defend next Wednesday, the team will be grateful.
CLUB BRUGGE VS. ASTON VILLA MATCH STATS
Possession: Club Brugge 56%-44% Aston Villa
Shots: Club Brugge 11-7 Aston Villa
Shots on target: Club Brugge 3-4 Aston Villa
Corners: Club Brugge 3-1 Aston Villa
Fouls: Club Brugge 8-10 Aston Villa
BEST STATS
Aston Villa will take a two-goal advantage to Villa Park for the second leg of this Champions League last-16 tie after two late strikes helped them to a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge at Jan Breydelstadion.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) March 4, 2025
Get the match stats, here: https://t.co/F5Ut5DBHDq pic.twitter.com/eI5UHkTSGB
WHAT NEXT?
Next up for Brugge is a First Division A derby clash with Cercle Brugge on March 9, while Villa will be travelling to take on Brentford on Saturday before the second leg on March 12.
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