Aston Villa earned a 3-1 win away to Club Brugge in their Champions League last-16 first leg in Belgium, thanks to an own goal and a penalty kick in the final eight minutes.
Villa were in front in the third minute when Leon Bailey fired a first-time shot into the bottom corner but the hosts were level nine minutes later through Maxim De Cuyper.
The tie appeared to be heading for a draw until Brandon Mechele put the ball into his own net eight minutes from time and with two minutes left Marco Asensio converted from the penalty spot.
The sides will meet again at Villa Park next Wednesday for the second leg, to decide who will face either Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals. Follow all the Champions League reaction with our live blog below:
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa LIVE
- FULL TIME! Aston Villa score two late goals to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in first leg
- 88' GOAL! Marco Asensio scores penalty as Villa turn it around late on (BRU 1-3 AVL)
- 83' OWN GOAL! Brugge's Mechele puts Rogers cross into own net (BRU 1-2 AVL)
- 69' OFF THE LINE! Stunning clearance from Mings keeps Villa level (BRU 1-1 AVL)
- 63' CHANGES! Unai Emery makes quadruple change and brings on Asensio (BRU 1-1 AVL)
- 30' SAVE! Martinez gets down low to stop Talbi's half-volley (BRU 1-1 AVL)
- 10' GOAL! De Cuyper's sweeping finish cancels out Bailey's early opener (BRU 1-1 AVL)
- 3' GOAL! Bailey's half-volley from Mings knock-down gives Villa perfect start (BRU 0-1 AVL)
Una Emery on Aston Villa’s 3-1 victory at Club Brugge and Tyrone Mings’ redemption, after the defender’s mistake in the 1-0 defeat in Belgium earlier this season:
"It is very important getting experiences. The first experience he had here was not good but today he reacted fantastic, playing focused, serious, saving one action that was a goal.
"We are demanding everyone inside. I am demanding with the players and they have to be demanding themselves.
"Of course I know the difficulties in football and how we can (have) experiences and how we can get better and analyse everything deeply and try and correct it, that is my only target with the players.
"We corrected something from the match we played here. Of course we have to correct something we didn't do well today here for the next week against Bruges."
‘Unbelievable’ Tyrone Mings clearance hailed as ‘turning point’ in Aston Villa win
20:48 , Jamie BraidwoodAn “unbelievable” goal-line clearance from Tyrone Mings was hailed as a “turning point” as Aston Villa took a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 win at Club Brugge.
Unai Emery’s frustration was mounting, with hosts Brugge taking charge of the contest after Leon Bailey’s early opener was cancelled out by Maxim De Cuyper and Villa spending long spells on the back foot.
Emi Martinez had already made one excellent save to deny Chemsdine Talbi down low, but the goalkeeper appeared to have been beaten by Hans Vanaken’s downward header as it was directed back across goal and into the far corner.
However Mings, who was facing his own goal two yards out, managed to get the slightest touch on Vanaken’s header, reaching to get his toe high enough to alter its direction and divert it around the post.
Mings’ touch was so slight that referee Joao Pinheiro pointed for a goal-kick, but its significance became clear when Villa scored two late goals to take a 3-1 lead back to Villa Park for next week’s second leg.
‘Unbelievable’ Tyrone Mings clearance hailed as ‘turning point’ in Aston Villa win
FULL TIME! Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
19:56 , Jamie BraidwoodSpeaking on TNT Sports, Rio Ferdinand calls Tyrone Mings’ astonishing goal-line clearance as the “turning point” in the tie.
Aston Villa and Club Brugge were level at 1-1 when Mings got a touch to Hans Vanaken’s header, which was sneaking in at the back post.
Villa’s two late goals means they are now in control of the tie ahead of the return leg, but it would have been a different story had they gone 2-1 down.
FULL TIME! Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
19:42 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa punished two late mistakes from Club Brugge to win 3-1 in Belgium and take control of their Champions League last-16 tie.
With the match head for a 1-1 stalemate in the 83rd minute, Morgan Rogers’ cross was first put into his own net by Brandon Mechele, before Christos Tzolis brought down Matty Cash in the box, giving Marco Asensio the chance add a third from the penalty spot.
Asensio made no mistake and a 3-1 win in Brugge puts Unai Emery’s side in control ahead of next week’s second leg at Villa Park.
FULL TIME! Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
19:36 , Jamie BraidwoodWhat a result for Aston Villa! They take a 3-1 lead back to Villa Park, but Club Brugge will be kicking themselves. They were the better team until two late mistakes, an own goal and penalty, put Villa in charge.
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
19:35 , Jamie Braidwood90+1 mins: Ooooh. Let off for Villa. Hugo Vetlesen has a chance on the edge of the box but can’t keep the shot down.
Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
19:33 , Jamie Braidwood90 mins: Four minutes added on. The Villa fans in the away end are in dreamland thanks to those two late goals.
GOAL! Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa (ASENSIO PEN 88')
19:30 , Jamie BraidwoodMARCO ASENSIO SCORES FROM THE SPOT!
He loses his footing slightly but beats Mignolet - who went the right way to his right!
But Asensio’s penalty was too good - that’s his fifth since joining Villa already.
What a five minutes for Villa. It’s turned the tie around.
PENALTY! Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa
19:28 , Jamie Braidwood85 mins: ASTON VILLA HAVE A PENALTY! Tzolis takes an awful touch in the box and brings down Matty Cash!
HUGE CHANCE FOR VILLA!
GOAL! Club Brugge 1-2 Aston Villa (MECHELE OG' 83')
19:24 , Jamie BraidwoodASTON VILLA ARE IN FRONT! A HUGE STROKE OF LUCK!
Morgan Rogers looks for Ollie Watkins with a first-time cross and puts Brandon Mechele in a tough position. Watkins is lurking behind him and Rogers’ cross is finding its target. So Mechele sticks out a leg - only for the cross to fly off him and beat Mignolet!
Villa will take it! A priceless goal and they lead again.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:17 , Jamie Braidwood74 mins: CHANCE! Big moment for Brugge but Tzolis can’t keep his shot down! There’s a lovely flick from Vanaken to release him but Tzolis went for power and skies the shot high and wide.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:15 , Jamie Braidwood73 mins: Unai Emery is fuming on the touchline and has been booked for his protests. He risks a further telling off as he appeals for a foul on Asensio.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:12 , Jamie Braidwood69 mins: OFF THE LINE! Oh that is incredible from Tyrone Mings! One of the best goalline clearances you will ever see.
Tzolis’ deep cross picks out Hans Vanaken at the back post. The captain beats Martinez with the header back across goal, but Mings rushes back and manages to get a toe on it to flick it past the post! It required the faintest of touches - so faint that the referee didn’t spot it and a goal-kick is given.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:10 , Jamie Braidwood67 mins: SAVE! Oh Asensio is immediately involved but can’t beat Mignolet! It’s good play from Ramsey on the left. He picks out Asensio with the pull-back and the Spaniard guides it first-time on target, but straight down the middle. Mignolet makes the save and Cash can’t keep the follow-up down!
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:09 , Jamie Braidwood66 mins: Villa have kept the same shape but Rogers has gone out wide with Asensio in the middle.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:05 , Jamie Braidwood63 mins: A shot from Bailey goes over the bar, so it’s time for the Villa changes.
Asensio for Rashford, Kamara for McGinn, Ramsey for Bailey, and Cash for Disasi.
Villa have a strong bench and Emery is using it.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
19:02 , Jamie Braidwood60 mins; Here come the Villa changes, and there are going to be four at once.
Asensio, Ramsey and Cash are all prepared. Oh, and Kamara! So a quadruple change from Unai Emery.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:58 , Jamie Braidwood55 mins: If Villa continue like this it surely won’t be too long before Marco Asensio is called upon. The former Champions League winner has been warming up on the sidelines.
That said, an away draw to take back to Villa Park is hardly a bad result.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:54 , Jamie Braidwood52 mins: Mings is required to dive in and block the cross from the right as Brugge win a corner. Disasi is there to head away and Watkins is required to mop up and shephard it behind for a goal kick.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:53 , Jamie Braidwood50 mins: Rashford is flagged for a foul after leaning into Sabbe as he chased a high ball.
A moment later, Rogers slips in Watkins but Sabbe tracks back well and pokes it away as he entered the box.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:51 , Jamie Braidwood48 mins: I wouldn’t say Brugge or Villa are rushing to grab this game by the neck at the start of the second half. A cautious approach from both sides early on.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:46 , Jamie BraidwoodThe players are emerging from the tunnel so the second half is coming up. No changes from Villa at the break. Marco Asensio is on the bench but reportedly has a knock. Jacob Ramsey and Donyell Malen are other options.
HALF TIME! Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:42 , Jamie BraidwoodHave to say, I’m enjoying Rashford’s spell with Villa and the way he’s looking to attack his full-back at every opportunity. Villa are looking to stretch the game with Rashford out wide, but Watkins has been quiet leading the line.
HALF TIME! Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:33 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd there’s the break. Aston Villa made the perfect start to this last-16 tie through Leon Bailey but Club Brugge found a quick reply and have been the better team since.
Maxim De Cuyper’s swept finish could have been added to by Chemsdine Talbi but Emi Martinez made an important stop.
A decent game but Unai Emery does not look too happy with his side.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:31 , Jamie Braidwood45 mins: Rogers bundles into the Brugge box but runs into trouble. That’s before Jashari turns Tielemans and the Belgian is perhaps fortunate to escape a yellow after pulling Jashari down.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:28 , Jamie Braidwood42 mins: Decent move from Villa as Watkins finds Digne and then the left-back returns the cross. Watkins can’t steer his header on target and Brugge clear.
Watkins looked like he wanted the ball through a bit quicker.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:26 , Jamie Braidwood41 mins: That’s good from Rashford, who shows the right back Sabbe a quick burst and then a powerful arm to reach the byline. Rashford’s cross is straight at Mignolet, though.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:24 , Jamie Braidwood38 mins: We’ve not seen too much from Ollie Watkins so far tonight, while McGinn and Tielemans are beginning to be outnumbered in the midfield. Villa are on the back foot and are having to adjust to Club Brugge’s shape.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:21 , Jamie Braidwood34 mins: This has been a good spell from Brugge, who have recovered from their nightmare start and responded well. Tzolis’ cross is thumped away by Mings but Brugge stay on the front foot. Tzolis then pops up on the other side but the pull-back is again cleared. Brugge on top right now.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:17 , Jamie Braidwood30 mins: SAVE! What a stop from Martinez down low, and it keeps Villa level! Poor defending from Villa as the ball from the left goes all the way through and reaches Talbi. Like Bailey in the first goal, Talbi keeps the shot low but Martinez gets down and Mings scrambles clear.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:15 , Jamie Braidwood27 mins: Brugge are giving Villa time and space on the ball but the challenge for the visitors is getting Rashford, Bailey and Rogers in space beyond the halfway line.
Villa make a decent break through Disasi, who plays wide to Bailey. The winger cuts in but is crowded out in the box.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:10 , Jamie Braidwood24 mins: Really good work from Morgan Rogers down the right, muscling his way to a yard of space. There’s no one in the middle to meet his cross, though.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:09 , Jamie Braidwood23 mins: A chance for Villa from the set-piece after Bailey is fouled on the wing, but McGinn’s cross fails to beat the first man. Mignolet then gathers the next ball in from McGinn.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:08 , Jamie Braidwood21 mins: Brugge find the ball behind Disasi again, picking out Tzolis. Disasi does well this time, though, staying on his feet and timing his challenge in the box as the winger dropped his shoulder and looked to cut inside.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
18:04 , Jamie Braidwood15 mins: Just a couple of minutes before Brugge equalised, Villa had the chance to split the Belgian’s defence apart as Rogers looked to slip Watkins in. A moment later, Brugge played the long ball and got in behind Villa to score the opener.
Fine margins.
GOAL! Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa (De Cuyper 12')
17:58 , Jamie BraidwoodOH WOW! Brugge are level in an instant, out of nowhere! Villa are appealing for offside, but it’s been swept in by Maxim De Cuyper! Villa’s lead lasts just minutes.
A long ball from Brugge found the run of Christos Tzolis, the former Norwich man, who skipped past Axel Disasi at right back.
He reached the byline and pulled it back, to find the run of the full-back De Cuyper, who was unmarked in the Villa box. Game on!
Club Brugge 0-1 Aston Villa
17:57 , Jamie Braidwood10 mins: That was a confident break from Rashford down the left. He chose the right option to find Bailey and continue his run into the box, it’s just the angle closed to give Mignolet a simple save at his near post.
The Villa fans are drowning out the home support.
Club Brugge 0-1 Aston Villa
17:54 , Jamie Braidwood8 mins: A first moment for Brugge but the corner from the left is horribly overhit and goes behind without a touch.
At the other end, Rashford leads the break, exchanges a one-two with Bailey, but smashes the shot into Mignolet’s feet.
Club Brugge 0-1 Aston Villa
17:52 , Jamie Braidwood6 mins: Bailey has not featured much for Villa this season and did not look likely to start given Asensio and Rashford’s form. But he’s made an impact already with just his second goal of the campaign.
GOAL! Club Brugge 0-1 Aston Villa (BAILEY 3')
17:48 , Jamie BraidwoodWHAT A START FOR ASTON VILLA!
Villa loft a free-kick into the box from the halfway line, Mings knocks it down to the penalty spot and finds Bailey, who moves Rogers out of the way, to slam the half-volley past Simon Mignolet!!!
Scenes in the away end. Villa lead after just three minutes.
Club Brugge 0-0 Aston Villa
17:47 , Jamie Braidwood1 mins: A very cautious start from Brugge, who are sitting off the visitors when they have the ball. Villa, all in white, quickly regain the ball trough Tielemans after Rashford dribbled into trouble.
KICK-OFF! Club Brugge 0-0 Aston Villa
17:46 , Jamie BraidwoodUnderway in Brugge.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
17:44 , Jamie BraidwoodHere we go! The sound of the Champions League anthem greets what is one of Aston Villa’s biggest nights in a generation; a knockout tie in Belgium against Club Brugge with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs over the next two legs.
Kick off is next.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa team news and how to watch
17:43 , Jamie BraidwoodClub Brugge XI: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
Subs: Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spileers, Campbell
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Disasi, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Torres, Asensio, Maatsen, Bogarde, Ramsey, Kamara
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1. Subscribers can also watch online and via the discovery+ app.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
17:42 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports, on tonight’s last-16 tie.
"Of course, we know the potential and we know we have to be strong. Defensively, tactically and more or less organised and try to stop their gameplan. The challenge is to be competitive away and try win the match. It is a tough match and we respect them a lot."
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
17:40 , Jamie BraidwoodTonight is Marcus Rashford’s first Champions League appearance since November 2023, when he was sent off for Manchester United against FC Copenhagen.
The 27-year-old has scored 12 Champions League goals in his career, but just one over the last four seasons.
Brugge's teenage talent
17:37 , Mike JonesChemsdine Talbi has been directly involved in three goals in his last two Champions League appearances for Club Brugge (two goals, one assist).
No Belgian teenager has ever netted three goals in a single edition of the competition (Talbi on two in 2024-25).
Martinez proving his worth
17:35 , Mike JonesAmong players remaining in the 2024-25 edition, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez has prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League this season (+4.4 – six conceded from 10.4 xG on target faced).
Indeed, the Argentinean has only been beaten with six of the 39 shots on target he’s faced in Europe this term (85% save percentage).
Long range maestros
17:30 , Mike JonesNo team have scored more goals from outside the box than Aston Villa (5) in the Champions League this season.
Of sides to score 10+ goals in a campaign, their percentage scored from outside the box (38% - 5/13) is the highest in a single edition since Villarreal in 2008-09 (38% - 5/13).
Emery on Club Brugge
17:25 , Mike JonesOf tonight’s opponents the Villa boss added: "We know their capacity, their potential. We know how competitive they are.
“It's a really good challenge for us to play against a team that beat us. It's an exciting moment in our season."
Pre-match thoughts from Unai Emery
17:20 , Mike JonesThe Aston Villa coach said: "I am focusing on each match, each moment.
“A win is the consequence, it's not the aim; it's all about the process. It is always my focus.
“If you are thinking [too far ahead] you will lose the way, and you are not getting there."
Emery's European pedigree
17:15 , Mike JonesAston Villa will be the fourth different team Unai Emery has managed in the knockout stages of the Champions League, following Valencia, Paris SG and Villarreal.
Only three managers have ever done so in charge of more than four: Carlo Ancelotti (6), José Mourinho (6) and Claudio Ranieri (5).
Three in a row?
17:10 , Mike JonesClub Brugge won both legs against Atalanta in the play-off round (2-1 at home, 3-1 away).
Only once previously have they won three consecutive games in the Champions League – in September/October 2022 under Carl Hoefkens (3).
Knockout round woes
17:05 , Mike JonesThis will be Club Brugge's first knockout tie against English opposition in European competition since losing 6-1 on aggregate to Manchester United in the Europa League Last 32 in February 2020.
Brugge vs English opponents
17:00 , Mike JonesAcross European competition, Club Brugge have won just one of their last 16 games against English opposition (D3 L12), conceding 42 goals during that time.
The Belgian side's only victory in that time did come against Aston Villa, however, 1-0 in this season's league phase.
Villa versus Belgian opposition
16:55 , Mike JonesAston Villa have faced Belgian opposition five times before in European competition, winning just one of those encounters (D1 L3), a 1-0 victory vs Anderlecht in the European Cup in April 1982.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa team news and line-ups
16:44 , Jamie BraidwoodNo place for Marco Asensio
Unai Emery makes four changes from Friday’s win over Cardiff in the FA Cup, the headline being Marco Asensio dropping to the bench despite his double in the 2-0 victory.
Asensio is replaced by Morgan Rogers, who starts in a front four of Leon Bailey, Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins.
With John McGinn and Youri Tielemans in midfield, there’s three changes to the defence with Axel Disasi, Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne coming in.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa team news and line-ups
16:39 , Jamie BraidwoodClub Brugge XI: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
Subs: Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spileers, Campbell
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Disasi, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Torres, Asensio, Maatsen, Bogarde, Ramsey, Kamara
'Villa can make history'
16:35 , Mike Jones“Of course, we’re in the competitions, we are contenders to win every competition we’re in,” John McGinn said. “In certain competitions we are more fancied than others.
“But of course, being in the competition, we are contenders, and going towards the end of the season, it’s brilliant that we’ve got so much to look forward to.
“We’ve got an opportunity to make some history, but (there’s) a long, long way to go in each competition.”
'We need a clean sheet'
16:30 , Mike JonesAston Villa captain, John McGinn, spoke about how his team will tackle these two knockout legs.
He said: "We need to start with a clean sheet and try and nick a goal through a counterattack, something we were very strong doing last season.
“We were very good on the break, very tough to break down, and we know we need to get back to that."
John McGinn reveals why Aston Villa are ready to ‘make some history’ in Champions League
16:25 , Mike JonesAston Villa captain John McGinn says the best could be yet to come from his side this season as they look to create “history”.
Villa are challenging on three fronts as they are in the last 16 of the Champions League, the FA Cup quarter-finals and still in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Their attention turns to Europe this week where they play at Club Brugge in the first leg of the round of 16, hoping for revenge after November’s 1-0 defeat in Belgium in the league phase.
John McGinn reveals why Aston Villa are ready to ‘make some history’
Tielemans threading the needle
16:19 , Mike JonesAston Villa’s Youri Tielemans is one of only three midfielders to have made 50+ line-breaking passes while under high-intensity pressure in the Champions League this season (53), along with Angelo Stiller (58) and Joshua Kimmich (54).
Champions League history
16:14 , Mike JonesClub Brugge have a longer Champions League history than Aston Villa.
The Belgian champions had participated in 10 group stages before this season's league phase, with their first appearance dating back to this competition's inaugural 1992/93 campaign.
Villa, however, have won this competition before, back when it was the European Cup when they beat Bayern Munich in the 1982 final.
'Beating them gives us confidence'
16:09 , Mike JonesClub Brugge captain, Hans Vanaken, says the fact his side have already beaten Aston Villa this season gives them confidence that they can repeat the feat tonight.
Vanaken said: "Beating them in the league phase gave us confidence.
“It was a deserved three points and that encourages us ahead of the next two games. It is up to us to ensure we go to them with a good starting position.
"The only difference compared to the previous game against Aston Villa is that there are a number of new players, but their system and style of play have remained the same."
The Champions League returns and its flaws leave an unintended benefit
16:03 , Mike JonesThere are a lot of elite footballers who still have the Champions League theme as their ringtone, and some will be actively playing it on the way to stadiums. Familiarity hasn’t dulled excitement. It’s fair to say that isn’t really from the relative laboriousness of the group stage, but rather the exquisite energy of the knockouts.
This week is where football history starts to be made, partly because of how visions of glory can be instantly consigned to the past. It is tension and tantalising opportunity all at once. Through that, there’s a distinctive thought, one even more striking than the sense many players will feel this week of stepping out into great stadiums. A good chunk of this season’s stars were children when watching Barcelona’s comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the kind of game that made them first realise the unique magic of these nights.
The Champions League returns and its flaws leave an unintended benefit
Injury boost for Villa
15:57 , Mike JonesUnai Emery has confirmed that Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash have all travelled to Belgium for Tuesday's first leg.
Spain centre-back Torres has been out since breaking a metatarsal at the end of December, while fellow defenders Mings and Cash have missed the last two games.
The availability of all three gives Emery more options throughout the game.
A repeat clash
15:52 , Mike JonesAston Villa will meet Club Brugge for just the second time in European competition.
The first meeting between the two sides came in the Champions League this season, a 1-0 league phase win for Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Emery on Rashford and Asensio
15:47 , Mike JonesThe Villa boss said: “Each one is playing in his position, trying to feel comfortable.
“And the players are understanding as well where are the spaces are to use them and trying to overcome the difficulties with the opponent they were facing us.
“Of course, I am very happy how they played and how they are adapting to us.
“We will need them for the next matches and the challenges we have.”
Unai Emery praises Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford after beating Cardiff
15:42 , Mike JonesAston Villa boss Unai Emery hopes Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford can fire his side to FA Cup glory.
Asensio’s second-half double, one of which was set up by Rashford, helped Villa to their first quarter-final in a decade with a 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff.
The pair have both made a big impact since joining on loan in the January transfer window, with Asensio scoring four goals and Rashford making three of them.
Unai Emery praises Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford after beating Cardiff
'Villa will bring intensity'
15:36 , Mike JonesMore from Hayen who spoke about what he is expecting Aston Villa to bring to the match tonight.
He said: "Aston Villa have added talented individuals [since the last meeting], but as a team they have remained the same.
“The expectation is that they will bring a lot of intensity, will look for solutions in-game and will play offensively."
Pre-match thoughts from Nicky Hayen
15:31 , Mike JonesThe Club Brugge head coach said: "We prepare for every match in the same way, both in our domestic competitions and in the Champions League.
“A lot will depend on the first match.
“They have lost seven of the last nine away matches, but Aston Villa are unbeaten in 14 matches at home, so we must try to win at home."
'Teammates give me confidence'
15:26 , Mike Jones“Attention is really good, I’m really happy with the teammates, with the staff, they give me a lot of confidence, so I try to do my best in the pitch,” Marco Asensio told Villa’s official website.
“And it’s going well, so I want to score more, give more to this team, to this club and that’s my objective.
“We have to keep pushing, we are in the right way, so the next step is Champions League and now the focus is there.”
Marco Asensio wants to inspire Aston Villa to success over remainder of season
15:20 , Mike JonesMarco Asensio wants to help fire Aston Villa to glory this season after an impressive start to life at the club.
The 29-year-old signed on loan from Paris St Germain in January and has settled in well, scoring four goals in his last three games.
Two of them came in the 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff which sent Villa into their first FA Cup quarter-final in a decade.
Marco Asensio wants to inspire Aston Villa to success over remainder of season
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa prediction
15:14 , Mike JonesThis match will be a tense affair, with the visitors happy to take any sport of result back to Villa Park.
With Emery’s side unlikely to throw everything at it in attack, it could end in a stalemate.
Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa predicted line-ups
15:08 , Mike JonesClub Brugge XI: Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Garcia, Disasi, Konsa, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Rogers, Asensio, Rashford; Watkins.
Aston Villa team news
15:02 , Mike JonesMatty Cash could make his return for Villa after sitting out the win over Cardiff, though Donyell Malen will not feature after not being included in the squad for the competition.
Tyrone Mings could also return to the squad for Villa, with Boubacar Kamara likely facing a late fitness test too. Amadou Onana, Pau Torres and Ross Barkley are still a few weeks from a full recovery.
How can I watch the match?
14:56 , Mike JonesIn the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 5pm. Subscribers can also watch online and via the discovery+ app.
You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.
When is Club Brugge vs Aston Villa?
14:51 , Mike JonesThe match is schedule to kick off at 5.45pm GMT at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
14:45 , Mike JonesAston Villa travel to Belgium to take on Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, with Unai Emery’s side looking to take a vital advantage back to Villa Park.
The Villains finished eighth in the competition’s league phase and their reward is a last-16 tie against the Belgian side, who scraped through in 24th before earning one of the surprise results of the play-offs as they beat Atalanta 5-2 on aggregate.
Villa’s squad has been reinforced with the arrival of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, as shown in the club’s 2-0 win over Cardiff in the FA Cup, and they now face a confident Brugge team who eliminated one of Italy’s best sides.
And it all makes for a fascinating tie as the business end of the Champions League begins in Belgium.
Good afternoon!
13:00 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Champions League action as Aston Villa take on Club Brugge in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Unai Emery’s men will be hoping to continue their strong run in Europe’s top flight this year and will want to progress to the next stage of the competition.
Winning away from home will help him achieve that goal but can they get the job done tonight?
We’ll have the latest team news, line-ups and updates throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 5.45pm.
