Aston Villa secured their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over a 10-man Club Brugge, sealing a 6-1 aggregate win.
Marco Asensio was the star of the night, coming off the bench to score twice, with Ian Maatsen also on target.
Villa now set their sights on a blockbuster last-eight showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.
Sabbe’s Early Red Card Shifts the Game
Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for most of the match, Club Brugge initially displayed resilience.
However, their hopes of an unlikely comeback suffered a major blow when Kyriani Sabbe received a straight red card for pulling down Marcus Rashford, who had latched onto Emiliano Martínez’s long ball.
Villa, wary of complacency, played cautiously in the first half, but Unai Emery’s tactical changes at halftime turned the tide. Introducing Asensio and Leon Bailey injected fresh energy into the attack, and the duo wasted no time in making an impact.
Asensio’s Instant Impact
Bailey’s assist set up Asensio, who rifled the ball into the net, finally breaking the deadlock. The Spanish playmaker, on loan from PSG, nearly doubled his tally moments later when his shot struck the post.
Maatsen then extended Villa’s lead before Rashford unselfishly teed up Asensio for his second of the night, sealing the comprehensive win.
Unai Emery made three changes to his starting lineup from the first leg, with Matty Cash, Ian Maatsen, and Boubacar Kamara stepping in, while Rashford got the nod ahead of Asensio, who started on the bench.
Player of the Match: Marco Asensio
Asensio’s influence at Villa has been undeniable. This was his third consecutive home game with a brace, taking his tally to seven goals in five appearances.
Thriving in his preferred No. 10 role, the Spaniard has become a fan favorite at Villa Park. Now, he is set for an intriguing reunion with PSG in the next round, with UEFA rules allowing him to face his parent club—unlike Premier League loan restrictions.
Historic Quarter-Final Return and Villa’s Season Outlook
Villa’s progression to the Champions League quarter-finals marks their first appearance at this stage in 42 years. Alongside their European adventure, they remain in contention for domestic success, with an FA Cup quarter-final against Preston North End offering a route to Wembley.
Although Emery’s side must contend with their current ninth-place standing in the Premier League, they still have multiple paths back into European competition next season, sitting just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Reactions
Aston Villa Manager, Unai Emery, said, “To play the quarter-final is fantastic, very exciting, very motivating. To play against PSG is very difficult. They showed their capacity against Liverpool, the best team in the Premier League, the best team in Europe until yesterday.”
On facing his former club, he added, “I know the huge potential they have.”
Club Brugge Manager, Nicky Haye, stated, “We know they have players like Asensio with the quality to make a difference, not only in scoring but with his intelligent movement. In the end, they were more clinical than us, and that makes the difference at this level.”
John McGinn on Villa’s ‘Mad’ Rise
The Villa captain expressed his pride after the historic win, “It’s mad. A lot of us have worked so hard for this. Even with 10 men, PSG were the better side. We’re in the quarter-finals, but it doesn’t get much tougher than PSG.”
Reflecting on Villa’s resurgence, he added, “We’re giving these fans experiences they’ll never forget. It’s all about making these nights more frequent and writing our names in history.”
Statistical Highlights
Aston Villa become the ninth English team to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, the most from any single nation.
They have won seven of their 10 Champions League games this season, a tally only surpassed by Lazio and Valencia (eight) in their debut campaigns.
Asensio has scored seven goals in his last eight appearances for Villa, a tally only bettered by Ousmane Dembélé (eight) in Europe’s top five leagues since his Villa debut in February.
He is the first substitute to score a Champions League knockout-stage brace for an English club since Georginio Wijnaldum’s famous double for Liverpool against Barcelona in 2019.
Aston Villa’s dream run continues, and with PSG looming in the next round, the journey is only getting more thrilling.
