Aston Villa put on an impressive show at Villa Park on March 12, 2025, defeating Club Brugge 3-0 to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-1 aggregate score. The standout player was Marco Assensio, who scored two goals shortly after coming onto the pitch at the start of the second half.
The match kicked off at 4:00 PM local time, witnessing thrilling football from both sides. Aston Villa, already leading from the first leg with a 1-3 victory, aimed to close the tie decisively. Brujas, needing to secure goals and play offensively, suffered a major setback early on when Kyriani Sabbe received a red card for bringing down Marcus Rashford when he was through on goal. This red card, issued by referee Daniel Siebert, left the Belgians down to ten men as early as the 16th minute, putting them on the back foot for the remainder of the match.
Despite being shorthanded, Club Brugge fought valiantly and maintained pressure through their strong midfield play. They missed out on several opportunities to score and even managed to keep the score level until halftime. The first half ended with no goals, but both teams had several exchanges, with Villa struggling to break through the Brujas' defense.
The second half commenced with Aston Villa making strategic substitutions, bringing on Assensio and Leon Bailey. The inclusion of Assensio proved to be pivotal. Just five minutes after the restart, he scored with a powerful shot from close range, igniting the Villa fans and opening the scoring for the home team.
Ian Maatsen later extended Villa’s lead to 2-0 at the 57-minute mark, netting the ball after beautiful buildup play involving several players including Rashford, who assisted the goal. Maatsen's precise finish reflected the mounting pressure Villa had applied since the beginning of the second half.
Just four minutes after Maatsen's goal, Assensio found the back of the net again by converting another assist from Rashford, pushing the score to 3-0 with his second goal of the night and confirming his tremendous form since joining Villa on loan from PSG. His contribution raised his tally to seven goals across eight matches for Aston Villa, making him one of the key players as they progressed farther in the tournament.
Despite Villa’s dominance, Club Brugge continued to fight, with their determination earning them some chances; nevertheless, they struggled to find the net. The match concluded with the score standing at 3-0, highlighted by the extensive fighting spirit of the visitors who refused to give up even with ten men.
Aston Villa's aggregate triumph now sees them moving on to face Paris Saint-Germain, setting up a compelling matchup against the team for which Assensio plays. Villa will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face challenging competition against the Parisians, who recently knocked out Liverpool. The victory on this memorable evening at Villa Park has secured not just advancement for the team, but also pride and promise for their supporters.
With 42,461 fans cheering on their team, Aston Villa continues its quest for European glory, and the atmosphere at Villa Park was electric as they celebrated their progression to the next stage.
It's important to note, as Villa progresses, they are aware of the high standards and challenges posed by PSG, especially with Unai Emery as coach, who has past connections with the French club.
Aston Villa's performance reflects their ambition and readiness to challenge some of the best clubs on the continent, marking this as a significant chapter for the club, continuing their resurgence on the European stage.