Club Brugge v Aston Villa
Play By Play
There's the final whistle, as Aston Villa escape the Jan Breydel Stadium with three vital points, hanging on to beat Club Brugge 3–2 in their Champions League opener! Taking a seemingly comfortable 3–1 lead into half-time following goals from McGinn, Buendia and Jackson, Villa were made to defend desperately for their victory despite producing exactly 3.00 xG. Early second-half chances came and went for McGinn and Tresoldi at either end, but Villa were soon put on the back foot when Seys' cross struck the hand of Wan-Bissaka in the box. Tresoldi stepped up to dispatch the resultant penalty and reduce Villa's lead to 3–2, resulting in a final half-hour which had the visitors at sixes and sevens as Brugge racked up 1.46 xG. Tresoldi and Mechele both went close before Suzuki was forced into a series of desperate saves, denying Vetlesen and Tresoldi (with the help of his goal frame) as Villa clung on. Unai Emery's side eventually gained a foothold with late chances for McGinn, Alysson and Joao Gomes, while Bogarde had an effort cleared off the line which could have wrapped things up. A panicked second half ends with Villa victorious, unscathed and back in the goals for the first time this season, providing the perfect springboard for their Premier League campaign as Emery's new-look team gets up and running on the continent.
FULL-TIME: CLUB BRUGGE 2–3 ASTON VILLA.
SAVED!!! Suzuki salvages the points for Aston Villa!! Club Brugge pile bodies into the box for one last chance as Lee spreads possession wide to Forbs on the right. His cross is met by a goalbound header from Tresoldi, but there's not enough pace on the effort and Suzuki is able to hold it!
51 of Torres' 52 appearances in major European competitions have come under Unai Emery – 11 more than any other player (Ever Banega on 40) has made under the Spanish manager.
We'll play four minutes of additional stoppage time at the Jan Breydel Stadium, signalled just as Torres steers a Siquet cross behind for a late Club Brugge corner!
Vermant's on the end of a similar foul as he looks to find some space down the left-hand side for Club Brugge, with Joao Gomes taking him to ground and being booked as a result.
Hemmings sets off on a potential break for Villa before being hauled down on halfway by Vermant, who picks up a textbook yellow card for the professional foul.
Club Brugge have only won one of their last 17 games against English sides in major European competition, losing 13, although that lone victory did come in a Champions League home game against Aston Villa (1–0 in November 2024).
Mamadou Diakhon will also replace Virgili out wide, as Club Brugge launch one last push to try and find an equaliser in this game.
Two more late changes coming for the hosts, with Potts replaced by the much more attack-minded Romeo Vermant.
CHANCE!!! Barkley's stray pass from Suzuki's clearance almost lands the Villans in all sorts of trouble, but Tresoldi can't take Virgili's throughball cleanly on the turn and Joao Gomes comes away with it!
Only against Zrinjski Mostar in the 2023-24 UEFA Conference League (27) have Aston Villa recorded more shots on record in major European competition (since 2009-10), with 21 and counting so far in this game.
OFF THE LINE!! That could've sewn things up for Villa! They play their latest corner short and McGinn cuts back a square ball from the byline, which Bogarde arrives onto late with a low shot through the crowd that Seys somehow hooks off the line with Sommer beaten!
Jackson's off the mark in an Aston Villa shirt, but comes off now for Tammy Abraham to see the game out as the visitors' line-leader in attack.
BLOCKED!!! Alysson's half-volley at the far post is blocked behind for a corner by Seys, which Club Brugge clear at the first time of asking. Back come Villa through Joao Gomes, however, who surges in-field from the left, cuts inside in the box, and curls a shot goalwards which Lee deflects behind!
McGinn is bundled to the ground legally by Potts but is soon back on his feet and cynically tripping Lemarechal from behind, picking up a late yellow card with Aston Villa clinging on.
Felix Lemarechal will also enter the fray in place of goalscorer Vetlesen for Club Brugge, coming on as the hosts' most advanced central midfielder.
The hosts make their first changes since half-time with two at once in midfield, with booked skipper Vanaken withdrawn for Cheveyo Tsawa to come on.
BLOCKED!! Alysson collects a low, cross-field pass from McGinn and sets off on a mazy run into the box, twice cutting inside Seys before finding his path and subsequent shot blocked by a wall of Blauw-Zwart shirts!
Liverpool – against Sevilla in November 2017 – are the last English team to lead by two or more goals at half-time of a Champions League game and fail to win, surrendering a three-goal lead to draw 3–3.
CHANCE!! Hemmings and Maatsen combine down the left before the former drills a low ball right across the face of goal, which Alysson chases but can't quite reach at the far post, failing to arrive in time to take his chance before fouling Seys to gift Brugge a free-kick!
SAVED!!! McGinn makes his way forward again and slots a pass through for Jackson to escape the defence, but the surging striker's left-footed effort is straight down Sommer's throat!
OFF THE WOODWORK!!! Siquet's corner is inch-perfectly accurate at the near post and catches Aston Villa napping, with Suzuki forced into action as Tresoldi almost squeezes a close-range header in off the upright and past him!
Ross Barkley will also come on at the base of Villa's midfield, replacing Kamara next to Joao Gomes in the double-pivot.
Buendia's first-half goal put Villa back into the lead amid a surge of Club Brugge chances, and Emery needs Alysson to have a similar impact as he replaces his starting number 10 with the young Brazilian.
