Aston Villa vs Club Brugge – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·12 mars 2025

Aston Villa vs Club Brugge – Match preview and team news

Aston Villa welcome Club Brugge to Villa Park this evening as they aim to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1983.

In the first leg, Unai Emery’s outfit recorded a 3-1 triumph following a late collapse from the hosts. The Villans carried that positive momentum into their weekend’s exploits to narrowly beat Brentford.

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Emery is close to having an entire squad at his disposal with only Ross Barkley unavailable. Amadou Onana, Emiliano Martinez and Marco Asensio are all back in contention after being absent on the weekend. Onana hasn’t appeared in over a month, but he’s expected to be included in the squad tonight. January acquisitions Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia are unavailable again due to not being included in the Champions League squad.

8pm. Our home. For a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. IT’S MATCHDAY 👊
– mercredi 12 mars 2025

Club Brugge triumphed in the Brugge derby on Sunday which helped lift their spirits after a disappointing result against Villa. The reigning Belgian champions will continue to be without the services of first-choice right-back Joaquin Seys. A hamstring injury is forcing the teenager out of action.

Aston Villa vs Club Brugge – Match preview and team news

Form

Aston Villa: WLWWW

Villa made it four wins in five games in all competitions by conquering Brentford 1-0 away from home at the weekend.

Ollie Watkins came back to haunt his former employers and scored the only goal of the contest just after the interval. The three points took Unai Emery’s team within four points of the top four heading into the final nine games of the campaign.

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Tonight is the final time Villa are in action until after the international break. Due to Liverpool’s involvement in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday, their game with the Villans was rescheduled from this weekend to a few weeks ago.

If Aston Villa are able to preserve their two-goal lead tonight, they will face French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.

Club Brugge: WLDLW

A heated derby was won by Nicky Hayen’s side at the weekend, courtesy of a 3-1 victory away to local rivals Cercle Brugge. A ten-minute blitz saw Club Brugge score all three of their goals, with Spanish striker Ferran Jutgla netting a brace.

Only one game remains of the regular season before the top six teams break away into a playoff. They sit in second position and are guaranteed a top-three finish, although third-place Union St. Gilloise are only a solitary point behind them.

Last Meeting: Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa, Champions League, 4th March 2025

An astute away showing from Villa gave them a strong lead heading into the second leg in front of their home faithful.

It was a scintillating start from Unai Emery’s team as they notched themselves in front in the third minute. Leon Bailey pounced on a loose ball to fire a first-time finish past the helpless Simon Mignolet.

But less than ten minutes later the hosts had restored parity. Maxim De Cuper burst into the box from the left-back position to sweep home the equaliser in style.

Both sides had chances to take the lead. For Brugge, Chemsdine Talbi’s drilled shot forced Emiliano Martinez into a smart stop, while Villa went close through Marco Asensio.

A heroic goal-line clearance midway through the second period from Tyrone Mings kept the visitors level. Brugge skipper Hans Vanaken’s header looked destined for the corner, only for the Englishman to get the slightest of touches to divert the ball off target.

Minutes after Christos Tzolis blazed over from close range, Unai Emery’s side reclaimed their advantage. Morgan Rogers’ cross into the middle was inadvertently put into his own net by Brandon Mechele. The long-serving defender looked crestfallen as the Villa players wheeled off to celebrate.

Brugge’s fortunes went from bad to worse almost immediately as they gave away a penalty. Following a loose touch, Tzolis caught Matty Cash inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot.

January signing Marco Asensio took the responsibility of the kick and the Spaniard placed it past Mignolet. The Belgian outfit were understandably frustrated after gifting two goals to their opponents in the latter stages.

Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn,; Watkins

Club Brugge: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Onyedika, Jashari; Nilsson, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla

Who is the referee?

German referee Daniel Siebert will be the match official. Rafael Foltyn and Lasse Koslowski will assist him while Daniel Schlager will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Christian Dingert and he will be assisted by Benjamin Brand.