How things can change in a matter of minutes. Club Brugge has been unable to create another shock in the Champions League, despite a great performance against Aston Villa. An early opener by Bailey was soon cancelled out by Maxim De Cuyper's equaliser, but a Mechele owngoal and an Asensio spot kick tipped the scales in the Villans' favour.
The team that had drawn at AA Gent on Saturday underwent three changes, with Kyriani Sabbe coming on for the injured Seys, and Onyedika and Tzolis reclaiming their spot at the expense of Siquet and Nilsson. Club has had an impressive run so far in this season's Champions League, but were off to a bad start as Tyrone Mings – the antihero of the previous spit between the two sides – headed back a free kick towards Leon Bailey slamming it in from close range (0-1).
Club seemed rattled, and it took an excellent Mignolet to deny Rashford from scoring the hosts' second. The Belgians shook off their fears, however, and equalised twelve minutes in. Jashari with the great long ball to find Tzolis, pushing on to pull back just in time to find Maxim De Cuyper, pinpointing it past Martinez in the far corner (1-1). Another chance followed for Tzolis, but this time the Greek was unable to cut past Konsa.
An exuberant Jan Breydel urged the hosts forward, and Club started getting the upper hand, resulting in another great chance to take the lead as Talbi struck from inside the box, but it is no coincidence Emiliano Martinez has been proclaimed as best goalkeeper of the world, denying Talbi the 2-1 with an impressive underhand reflex.
The second half saw more of the same, with Club trying to keep the lines closely knit, eagerly looking out for that break, and a first threat followed after ten minutes when Onyedika aimed for the top corner but saw Martinez grab the fine shot. On the other side of the pitch, Bailey also tried from quite some distance, but his shot went high over.
More chances followed, as first Mignolet floated away an Asensio shot, seeing Cash shooting it over in the rebound. Excellent preparatory work lead to Tzolis producing a brilliant cross on the left wing to find Vanaken by the far post, and the captain's header seemed to be going in, but Mings somehow caprioled it out of danger and juuuuuuust wide of target. And more followed, as Vanaken put Tzolis through with a subtle brush, but the Greek faultered eye-to-eye with Martinez. Fine chances for Club that should have proven golden at this stage.
Club had the better of the game and the better chances, but as it sometimes happens in football, the goal fell on the other end. Trying to defuse a great cross from the right wing, Mechele unfortunately put it beyond Mignolet's reach against his own nets. Adding salt to injury, Aston Villa was rewarded a penalty minutes later, as Tzolis tried to make up for a lack of control, bringing down cash undeliberately with very harsh implications. The Club fans sighed as Marco Asensio fired it past Mignolet in the bottom left corner. Still, Club could have made the task a bit more insurmountable had Vetlesen not done better with another excellent chance in stoppage time, aiming De Cuyper's pull back high over. Not outdone on the pitch, but a bad result nonetheless as Club Brugge heads towards Birmingham to try and make something of its bid for the Quarter Finals at Villa Park in one week.
UEFA Champions League – Round of 16 (first leg)
Audience: 29,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Joao Pinheiro (Por)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Kyriani Sabbe (90+1’ Michał Skóraś), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (90+1’ Hugo Vetlesen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Chemsdine Talbi (86’ Hugo Siquet), Ferran Jutglà (86’ Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis. Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Romeo Vermant, Casper Nielsen, Jorne Spileers en Shandre Campbell. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Aston Villa FC: Emiliano Martinez – Axel Disasi (64’ Matty Cash), Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne – John McGinn (64’ Boubacar Kamara), Youri Tielemans – Leon Bailey (64’ Marco Asensio), Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford (64’ Jacob Ramsey) – Ollie Watkins. Coach: Unai Emery.
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Goals: 3’ Bailey (0-1), 12’ De Cuyper (1-1), 82’ Mechele (owngoal, 1-2), 88’ Asensio (penalty, 1-3).