Nobody would have tipped Aston Villa to outlast Liverpool and Manchester City in this season’s Champions League.
Yet here they are in the quarter-finals, preparing to take on Paris Saint-Germain, former club of manager Unai Emery and the current employers of Villa’s match-winner Marco Asensio.
Asensio has won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid and, under UEFA rules, is eligible to face his parent club in the last eight. The last time Villa played a Belgian club at Villa Park in this competition, they beat Anderlecht 1-0 in the semi-finals on their way to lifting the trophy in 1982. With omens like these, Villa will be dreaming of a second title.
Cheered on by the Prince of Wales, Villa swept Club Bruges aside though they will be underdogs against PSG, so impressive in beating Liverpool over two legs. What a job Emery has done here since taking charge in autumn 2022, when the club feared they would be dragged into the relegation fight. PSG boss Luis Enrique won the trophy with Barcelona in 2015 yet he will not relish facing Emery over two legs.
‘Villa, Champions League quarter-finalists,’ reflected skipper John McGinn. ‘Can’t ask for much more. ‘We have a chance for Wembley in the FA Cup. We want to get back and enjoy these nights next season. What an exciting end to the season we’ve got.
‘We’re giving these fans experiences they’ll remember forever. We want to write our names in history and make these nights more frequent.’
Aston Villa eased into the last-eight of the Champions League with a win over Club Brugge
Unai Emery’s side will now take on PSG, who beat Liverpool on Tuesday, in the quarter-finals
Emery and Co took a 3-1 lead into the second leg but any nerves were quickly quashed
A second-half double from substitute Asensio – who now has seven goals since joining in the winter window – either side of Ian Maatsen’s strike sent Bruges out though the turning point came much earlier, when Kyriani Sabbe was sent off for hauling back Marcus Rashford in the 17th minute.
If Emery can find his way past PSG, it will feel significant. He was in charge of the French giants in 2017, when a 4-0 lead over Barcelona was erased by an astonishing 6-1 defeat in the second leg of their last-16 tie.
Emery has admitted it was the worst moment of his coaching career. Victory over his former club next month would surely be the best, notwithstanding the four Europa League titles he has won.
Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Villa had every reason to be confident and they certainly gave it the big build up.
There were pre-match fireworks and a huge banner in the Holte End paying tribute to the club’s rich history. Hans Vanaken made a late run into the box, drifted in front of Tyrone Mings and should at least have tested Emi Martinez when he met Ardon Jashari’s cross close to the penalty spot. Luckily for Villa, their nerves were settled soon enough.
Rashford accelerated in from the flank and his run was spotted by Martinez, who picked him out beautifully. Now it was a race between Rashford and Sabbe and the on-loan Manchester United man was too quick and strong for his opponent, who brought him down. Straight red card.
Midway through the half, Bruges had enjoyed 70 per cent possession but showed little venom as Villa tried to squeeze the life from the tie, which Rashford should have put beyond doubt in first-half stoppage time only to fire Mings’ cross into the side netting from eight yards.
Watkins departed at half-time, though Asensio was a pretty decent replacement, while Leon Bailey came on for Boubacar Kamara.
Kyriani Sabbe was sent off for the away side after just 16 minutes for a last-man foul
Maatsen scored the second goal of the game to put the result out of reach for the Belgians
Prince William (second right) was in attendance to cheer his team on at Villa Park last night
PSG will be favourites going into the game – but Asensio will be able to play against parent club
Having defended brilliantly in Bruges, Mings was nearly decisive at the other end when he forced a sharp stop from Simon Mignolet.
Less than five minutes after coming on, Asensio effectively sent Villa through when he floated round the back of Brandon Mechele and produced an excellent first-time finish from Bailey’s pass.
A tiring Bruges side could not fathom Asensio’s movement at all. Once more the Spaniard found too much space to collect Youri Tielemans’ pass and with the Holte preparing to celebrate, shot against the inside of the post.
Villa did not have to wait long to double their advantage as Asensio played in Morgan Rogers, whose cross was turned in at the near post by Maatsen. Now Villa were carving Bruges open at will and it was not long before Rashford burst into the box and squared for Asensio to slide in his second.
Mings added: ‘It’s important for them [Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio] to come in and buy into it. They come with big reputations. For them to come in, hit the ground coming, buy into the group and show their quality is so impressive.
‘When it comes to the Champions League, we’ll go there and give a good account of ourselves. We’ll enjoy every moment but we have a lot of firepower and quality ourselves.’