Villa Make History! First Champions League Quarter-Final in 42 Years Secured
Aston Villa reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in over four decades with a dominant 3-0 victory over Club Brugge at Villa Park. A second-half brace from Marco Asensio and a goal from Ian Maatsen sealed a commanding 6-1 aggregate triumph, setting up an exciting last-eight clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Brugge’s Hopes Dashed Early with Sabbe’s Red Card
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Club Brugge needed a fast start to stand any chance of pulling off a historic comeback. Captain Hans Vanaken nearly provided it when his glancing header flashed just wide of the post in the opening minutes.
However, their task became monumental in the 17th minute when Marcus Rashford’s blistering run forced Kyriani Sabbe into a last-man challenge, leading to a straight red card. Down to ten men, Brugge’s hopes of reaching their first-ever Champions League quarter-final faded quickly.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Brugge remained competitive. Chemsdine Talbi tested Emiliano Martínez with a powerful strike from distance, but the Argentine goalkeeper produced a fine save to deny the visitors a lifeline.
Villa Take Control in the Second Half
Villa, initially content to manage their aggregate lead, found their rhythm after halftime. Unai Emery introduced Marco Asensio and Leon Bailey, a move that paid immediate dividends.
Just five minutes into the second half, Bailey lofted a perfectly weighted pass into the box for Asensio, who fired a stunning strike into the roof of the net, making it 1-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
MARC⚽️ ASENSI⚽️ pic.twitter.com/7fVy9hHbzK
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 13, 2025
From that moment, the floodgates opened.
Morgan Rogers set up Ian Maatsen for Villa’s second goal, with the full-back calmly slotting home from close range. Then, Asensio doubled his tally, tapping in Rashford’s low cross to complete a devastating 15-minute spell that ended the contest.
That first-time finish from Marco pic.twitter.com/Zg71O8C3Lo
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 13, 2025
Brugge, deflated and outnumbered, struggled to respond, and Villa comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Asensio’s Impact and Villa’s European Revival
Since joining Villa from Paris Saint-Germain in January, Asensio has found his best form, and this performance was another example of his growing influence. His brace took him to six goals in his last five games, proving Emery’s decision to bring him in was a masterstroke.
Villa’s resurgence in Europe has been nothing short of remarkable. After a strong domestic start to the season, they are now showing their credentials on the biggest stage, winning four consecutive matches across all competitions for the first time since the campaign’s early weeks.
What’s Next for Villa?
This dominant display has set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie against PSG, where Asensio will face his former club. With Villa in excellent form and Emery’s European pedigree, they will believe they have what it takes to continue their fairytale run in the Champions League.
For Brugge, their European adventure ends with back-to-back defeats, but their efforts in reaching the knockout rounds will still be seen as a respectable achievement.
Asensio’s heroics have made Villa genuine contenders in this year’s Champions League, and their fans will dare to dream of even greater triumphs in the weeks ahead.
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