2024-25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg – Aston Villa vs Club Brugge

Aston Villa meet Club Brugge in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.

With a 3-1 aggregate lead from the first leg, Villa simply need a win or draw to reach the Quarter-Finals although defeat by an one-goal margin would be enough too.

Club Brugge must simply win to stand any chance of progressing past this stage, although victory by a two-goal margin would see them force extra-time and potentially penalties.

 

Team News

Emiliano Martinez and Marco Asensio could return for Villa after they sat out the Premier League win at Brentford, having picked up muscle injuries in the first leg.

Amadou Onana (thigh) could return but Ross Barkley (knee) remains absent.

Club Brugge are expected to be without Joaquin Seys after he missed their last two matches – including the first leg – with a hamstring injury.

Bjorn Meier remains sidelined with a leg injury.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Villa host Club Brugge at Villa Park on Wednesday 10 March at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Villa have won one of their two previous Champions League meetings against Club Brugge (W1, L1).
• Club Brugge are making their first Champions League visit to Villa.
• Villa kept clean sheets in three of their four home matches in the league phase (W3, D1).
• Club Brugge have scored in all five of their away games in this season’s competition (W2, D1, L2).

 

Prediction

Although they have a healthy two-goal lead on aggregate, Villa can’t afford to rest on their laurels because if they concede the opening goal then this tie will come alive once more, but they were crucially well-controlled and clinical in their win at Brentford so more of the same could be enough.

Club Brugge simply weren’t clinical enough in the first leg amidst a late defensive meltdown so it is imperative that they score first, especially if they want to deliver another ruthless away performance and win this tie from behind after they battered Atalanta on the Italian’s turf in the knockout play-offs.

Villa though are yet to lose at home in this season’s competition and although Club Brugge will make them suffer a fair bit once more, I do feel like Unai Emery’s Villains should grind out a draw to progress to the Quarter-Finals.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Club Brugge

Result: Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (Aston Villa win 6-1 on aggregate)