Aston Villa Eyes Quarter-Final Spot in Champions League Showdown

BIRMINGHAM, England — Aston Villa aims to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals when they host Club Brugge on Wednesday evening. After a decisive 3-1 victory in the first leg of the round of 16, Villa hopes to continue their dream debut season in the tournament.

Manager Unai Emery is focused on ensuring Villa does not become a one-season wonder. “I want to get something more,” he stated. “It’s going to be very difficult starting from tomorrow, and we respect Club Brugge a lot. Anything can happen in a football match.”

Villa’s impressive first-leg performance was highlighted by two goals in the last ten minutes, and they are determined to capitalize on that momentum. “We are going to play the second leg, we are ready for 90 minutes to compete,” Emery added, emphasizing their preparedness for extra time or penalties if needed.

In injury news, Villa welcomes back goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and midfielder Marco Asensio after their absence during the Premier League victory against Brentford. Midfielder Amadou Onana is also back in contention, while Ross Barkley remains sidelined. “Martínez and Asensio are both in the squad,” said Emery. “I hope to have all players available to play.”

Villa’s progression to the quarter-finals would not only be a significant achievement, marking their first appearance at this stage since 1983, but it would also earn the club an additional £10.5 million in prize money. “Everything we are doing is fantastic, but our aim now is to sustain this performance level,” Emery commented.

Despite their lead, Emery cautioned against complacency. “We know that the tie is not over. We respect them a lot; we have our experiences, and we know football can change in 90 minutes,” he remarked.

Club Brugge, currently struggling in the league, finds themselves with a challenging task ahead. Manager Nicky Hayen will need to galvanize his side to overcome the deficit and deliver an upset at Villa Park. The Belgian side’s recent form includes a draw against Gent, which they aim to improve upon in a match that promises intense competition.

The match will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and will also be featured in BBC One’s Champions League Match of the Day later in the evening. Fans are urged to tune in for all the highlights from the action that kicks off at 22:00 GMT.