Aston Villa produced a commander’s second half of a display to illuminate past Club Brugge with a 3-0 win in Villa Park, which ended their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League with 6-1.
A brace of replacement Marco Asensio and a goal from Ian Maatsen ensured that the side of Unai Emery easily progressed, despite a slow performance of the first half.
Despite their 3-1 deficit of the first stage, Club Brugge fiercely started, controlled the possession and put Villa under early edition.
Hans Vanaken came in the neighborhood with a header, while Chemsdine Talbi Emiliano forced Martinez in a routine rescue.
The Belgian champions looked confident, but their task was made considerably more difficult in the 16th minute when the right back Kyriani Sabbe was shown a straight red card for the withdrawal of Marcus Rashford while he was driving on goal.
Even with a man’s advantage, Villa struggled to impose himself. Their best chance of the first half came when the free kick by Youri Tielemans was sent away by Simon Mignolet.
Bruges dominated, even though he was up to ten men, possession and the teams went during the break.
In the next round 🤩 #Ucl pic.twitter.com/qfrux7ajq
– Aston Villa (@AVFCofficial) March 12, 2025
Emery responded with attacking changes during the break, the introduction of Marco Asensio and Leon Bailey, and the impact was almost immediately.
Villa De Onbasse broke within five minutes after the restart. John McGinn spread the ball wide to Bailey, who quadrates for Asensio, and the Spaniard shot the ball into the roof of the net to bring it 4-1 to aggregated.
Villa doubled their lead only seven minutes later. Rashford and Morgan Rogers combined to feed Ian Maatsen, whose close-range finish took a deflection of Brandon Mechele and nestled in the back of the net.
It was the first goal of the Dutch full-back for the club and effectively ended the hope of a Bruges-Comback.
Asensio continued his dream effect from the bank and grabbed his second of the night in the 61st minute. Rashford ran along the left flank before he went back for the Lenleeer of Real Madrid, who hit his seventh goal in eight races for Villa.
On 3-0 on the night and 6-1 on aggregated, Villa was firm in cruise control.
Villa added almost a fourth when Axel Disasi went up close, while Rashford and Jacob Ramsey both let Mignolet test.
Bruges, visibly deflated, gathered little in response and their brave efforts in the competition came to an end when Villa saw the last minutes comfortable.
