Aston Villa produced an administrative display for the second half to facilitate the past Club Brugge with a 3-0 victory in Villa Park, sealing their place in the Champions League 6-1 quarter-finals in the inert.
A bracket by replacement Marco Asensio and a target by Ian Maatsen secured the UNAI Emery side with ease, despite the sluggish performance of the first half.
Despite the 3-1 deficit from the first leg, Club Brugge started vigorously, controlling the possession and putting the villa under premature pressure.
Hans Vanaken came close to a header, while Chemsdine Talbi forced Emiliano Martinez in a routine besides.
The Belgian champions seemed confident, but their duty became much more difficult in the 16th minute, when the right-back Kyriani Sabbe showed a straight red card to pull Marcus Rashford back as he ran into the goal.
Even with an advantage of man, Villa struggled to impose himself. The best opportunity for the first semester came when the free kick of Youi Tielemans was old by Simon Mignolet.
Brugge, despite being under ten men, dominated the Occupation and the teams went to the stoppage level.
In the next round 🤩 #UCL pic.twitter.com/qfrux7ajjq
– Aston Villa (@avfcofficial) 12 March 2025
Emery responded with a half -time change attacks, introducing Marco Asensio and Leon Bailey and the impact was almost immediate.
Within five minutes of the reboot, the villa broke the deadlock. John McGinn simplified the ball wide to Bailey, who square for Asensio, and the Spaniard pushed the ball to the roof of the net to make it 4-1 in total.
Villa doubled their lead just seven minutes later. Rashford and Morgan Rogers in combination to supply Ian Maatsen, whose finish near the finish brought a deviation from Brandon Mechele and placed on the back of the net.
It was the first goal of the Dutch full back for the club and the hopes of a Brugge return was essentially ended.
Asensio continued the impact of his dreams on the bench, grabbing the second night in the 61st minute. Rashford ran under his left hand before cutting back for Real Madrid loan, who coolly scored the seventh goal in eight games for the villa.
At 3-0 at night and 6-1 in total, the villa was firmly in Cruise Control.
Villa almost added the fourth when Axel Disasi headed from nearby, while Rashford and Jacob Ramsey also examined Mignolet late.
Brugge, visibly deflated, gathered little in response and their brave efforts in the competition were over as Villa saw the final minutes comfortable.
