Hosts self-destruct to place Unai Emery’s males in command

Aston Villa have command of their Champions League last-16 tie with Membership Brugge after a bewildering self-destruction from the Belgian facet handed Unai Emery’s males a 3-1 first-leg victory.

Villa had taken the lead by way of Leon Bailey’s third-minute effort, just for the reigning Belgian champions to reply 9 minutes later by way of Maxim De Cuyper.

Having torn Atalanta aside within the playoff spherical, Brugge continued within the ascendancy after levelling issues and spurned a number of probabilities to take a result in Villa Park subsequent week.

However the reigning Belgian champions now have all of it to do after Brandon Mechele put by way of his personal web and Marco Asensio confidently transformed a penalty to place Villa getting ready to the a quarter-final tie with Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain.

Villa lead 3-1 AWAY in Brugge!! ⚡️⚡️

Substitute Marco Asensio nets and places Aston Villa in a GREAT place within the tie… 🙌

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— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025

Membership Brugge vs Aston Villa

Villa scored from the sport’s first alternative as Bailey met Tyrone Mings’ knockdown from Youri Tielemans’ free-kick with an excellent first-time end past Simon Mignolet and into the bottom-right nook.

Marcus Rashford was then denied by Mignolet as Villa sought to double their benefit, however they had been quickly pegged again, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez maybe at fault.

Christos Tzolis collected the ball extensive on the left and had the time and area to select De Cuyper, whose left-foot shot had sufficient to beat Martinez’ outstretched hand.

Martinez redeemed himself with a high-quality close-range save from Chemsdine Talbi to protect parity as Brugge grew in confidence earlier than half-time.

A annoyed Unai Emery made 4 adjustments within the sixty fourth minute in a bid to wrest again the momentum, and solely the reflexes of Mignolet prevented one in every of Villa’s substitutes, Matty Money, from placing them again in entrance.

However Brugge continued to dictate proceedings, with Hans Vanaken seeing a far-post header one way or the other drift extensive earlier than Tzolis blasted excessive, extensive and never very good-looking after being performed clear by way of on objective.

Brugge in the end paid the value for his or her profligacy as Mechele confirmed a lot better innovative, albeit on the incorrect finish.

OWN GOAL!! 🫣

Catastrophe for Mechele and Brugge, as Aston Villa take the lead away from residence! 💥

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— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) March 4, 2025

He inadvertently turned Morgan Rogers’ good cross past a despairing Mignolet within the 82nd minute.

Worse was to come back six minutes later when Asensio fired into the bottom-left nook from 12 yards after Tzolis introduced down Money with a careless problem.

Crestfallen by their late collapse, Brugge did have a chance to redress the stability in harm time. Nonetheless, substitute Hugo Vetlesen summed up a dispiriting night for the hosts when he blazed over to make sure Villa will head again to the Midlands with a probably decisive two-goal benefit.