Aston Villa comfortably secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, defeating 10-man Club Brugge 3-0 at Villa Park to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory. The tie was effectively settled by the half-time introduction of on-loan star Marco Asensio, who scored twice and orchestrated a dominant second-half performance.
Villa, holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Belgium, played a cautious first half. The only major incident was the 16th-minute dismissal of Club Brugge defender Kyriani Sabbe, who was shown a straight red card for hauling back Marcus Rashford as he chased a long clearance from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Manager Unai Emery introduced Asensio and Leon Bailey at halftime, a tactical switch that transformed the match. Asensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, broke the deadlock five minutes after his introduction, finishing neatly from a Bailey pass.
Ian Maatsen doubled Villa’s lead seven minutes later, scoring his first goal for the club from close range after good work by Morgan Rogers. Asensio then completed the scoring in the 61st minute, tapping in after unselfish play from Rashford. The brace takes Asensio tally to seven goals in eight games.
The victory sets up a quarter-final clash with Paris St-Germain, meaning both Emery and Asensio will face their former club. Asensio is eligible to play against his parent club under the competition’s rules.
Emery’s European Pedigree on Display
Unai Emery’s European expertise, demonstrated by three Europa League titles with Sevilla and another with Villarreal, was evident in Villa’s controlled performance. He navigated the first half cautiously, avoiding any unnecessary risks, before unleashing Asensio to devastating effect.
The signing of Asensio, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, has proven to be a masterstroke. He brings both class and experience to the Villa squad. Rashford, too, continued to show improvement since arrival on loan.
Villa’s Champions League Dream Continues
Pre-match fireworks at Villa Park were mirrored by post-match celebrations as Villa secured their quarter-final berth. Having qualified for the Champions League by finishing in the Premier League’s top four last season, Villa initially targeted a respectable run in the new format.
However, Emery’s ambition extends beyond mere participation. He now has Villa within striking distance of the semi-finals, although they will face a formidable challenge against PSG, who overcame Manchester City and Liverpool to reach this stage. Despite being underdogs, Emery’s track record in European competitions suggests Villa cannot be discounted.
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