Pat Nevin reacts to Marco Asensio penalty in Aston Villa win v Club Brugge | OneFootball

Aston Villa have taken a massive step in reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League after they won 3-1 against Club Brugge in the Round 16 first leg tie away from home.

It wasn’t a terrific performance from Villa, but they got the job done by taking a handsome lead ahead of their return leg at Villa Park next Wednesday.

The home side missed several clear-cut opportunities and Villa punished them by scoring twice in the final ten minutes of the game.

With the score tied at 1-1, Brandon Mechele scored an own goal in the 82 minute, and six minutes later, Villa fans landed in dreamland after Marco Asensio scored from the spot to give them a precious win.

Asensio, who joined on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January, scored his fifth for Villa already. Simon Mignolet dived the right way, but Asensio placed the ball beyond his reach.

Matty Cash was fouled inside the box by Christos Tzolis, and the referee quickly pointed to the spot. Prior to that, Villa were looking happy with a draw, but two late goals have given them a massive advantage ahead of the second leg at Villa Park.

Pat Nevin, while commentating on the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, described Asensio’s goal as “phenomenal”.

He said: “Phenomenal. What a great night for the Villa fans. Marco Asensio slips a little bit when he takes it, his right foot gives way but only after he hits the ball.

“Simon Mignolet is really unlucky but there was power and accuracy to take it in.”

Nevin also felt that Villa carried a bit of luck and that a draw would have been a fair result.

In the end, it does not matter, as top players have the ability to make a difference, and Villa deservedly have taken a healthy lead ahead of the second leg.

It is a huge result for Villa and they are in the ideal position to get a positive result at Villa Park in the second leg and progress to the last eight.