Aston Villa has qualified for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after triumphing over Club Brugge 3-0 in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie held on March 12, 2025. Having already secured victory with a score of 3-1 away from home, Villa advanced with an aggregate score of 6-1. Marco Asensio shone on the night, coming off the bench to score two goals, with Ian Maatsen finding the net as well.
This marks Unai Emery's side's debut campaign in the Champions League, and their win on Wednesday was their seventh match victory, showcasing remarkable prowess only matched by two other teams—Lazio and Valencia—who have won more matches during their respective debut campaigns. The Midlands club is now set to face the formidable French champions Paris Saint-Germain, who eliminated Liverpool earlier this week.
Aston Villa's success doesn’t just stem from their performances on the pitch; their strategic moves during the January transfer window have played a significant role. The transfer season can be complex, but Villa managed to make several key signings this winter. Notably, Colombian star Jhon Durán was transferred to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, and before his departure, Villa secured the services of Dutch forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund and right-back Andrés García from Levante.
Yet, it was the final days of the transfer window when Villa truly bolstered their squad. They brought on loan Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain, and Axel Disasi from Chelsea. All five signings have been pivotal for Villa, especially Marco, who has made headlines by scoring seven times across just eight matches. His contributions have been invaluable, including pivotal goals against Chelsea and Cardiff, with his performance against Club Brugge being the latest highlight.
Interestingly, this upcoming clash against PSG holds additional narrative weight considering the involvement of Marco. He’s eligible to play against his parent club due to UEFA regulations, which differ from those applied by the Premier League, allowing him to take to the field without restrictions, unlike Rashford, who cannot face United later this year.
Villa's performance against Club Brugge wasn't without its challenges, as the Belgian side opened strongly and saw their captain Hans Vanaken nearly score early on, glancing just wide of the post. Yet, everything changed decisively when Brugge's Kyriani Sabbe was shown red for bringing down Rashford just 17 minutes in, handing Villa the numerical advantage.
Despite being down to ten men, Brugge initially continued to create chances. They threatened with efforts from Chemsdine Talbi and other players, forcing Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make important saves. The match remained tense until Villa's halftime substitutions proved transformational. Unai Emery sent on Marco and Leon Bailey, and within minutes, the duo combined effectively for Villa's opening goal.
Bailey's deft pass found Marco, who swiveled and finished impressively to break the deadlock. His goal came just five minutes after the interval, and shortly after, he hit the post, offering even more proof of his dangerous form. Ian Maatsen then doubled Villa's lead at the 57-minute mark following brilliant setup play from Morgan Rogers, scoring from close range before Marco solidified the victory with his second goal just minutes later, finishing from Rashford's cross.
The home crowd at Villa Park celebrated wildly, marking their team's return to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 42 years. The last time Villa reached this stage was back during the 1982-83 season, when they faced Juventus.
Reflecting on this remarkable achievement, manager Unai Emery spoke about the importance of the win and the quality of his players. "We are protecting him because he is not 100%, but more or less he was feeling good. How he played 45 minutes was fantastic for us. We needed him, and he took the responsibility to take his task," he said, referring to Marco's influence as they head toward the quarter-finals.
Marco himself expressed his satisfaction with the team's current form and the atmosphere around Villa. "[I’m] very comfortable. Very happy with the team-mates, the fans, and the city. We want more. Now we have a little break and to think about the upcoming objectives," he said, highlighting the positivity surrounding the club as they navigate through various competitions.
With their win against Brugge, Villa not only advances but continues to build confidence, having won four consecutive matches—a feat they hadn't achieved since season start. They now stand eighth in the Premier League, just four points shy of fourth-placed Chelsea, and they have another challenge forthcoming with the FA Cup quarter-final against Preston North End on the horizon.
The stage is set for Aston Villa as they prepare to clash with Paris Saint-Germain, amid excitement and anticipation from fans eager to see how their team will fare against one of Europe's elite. With Marco's revitalized form and Villa's cohesive squad, there is palpable optimism as they aim to make history this season.