Club Brugge and Aston Villa will battle at Jan Breydelstadion on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The winner of this contest could face either Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.
Brugge, who were runners-up in the European Cup in 1978, are making just their second appearance in the Champions League knockout rounds. They barely made it past the league phase but then stunned Atalanta with a dominant 5-2 aggregate win in the playoffs.
Their road to this stage was not smooth, as they suffered early defeats to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. However, they secured a crucial win over Aston Villa and advanced on goal difference despite losing 3-1 to Manchester City in the final group match.
Domestically, Brugge has struggled, trailing Belgian Pro League leaders Genk by 10 points. Yet, they have built a fortress at Jan Breydelstadion, losing only once in their last 17 home games. Scoring has not been an issue for Nicky Hayen’s men, as they have failed to find the net in just one of their last 35 matches.
Their previous encounter with Villa in November ended in a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of Hans Vanaken’s penalty following a defensive error by Tyrone Mings. That win ended a 15-game winless streak against English opposition.
Villa started their Champions League campaign in dominant fashion, securing maximum points in their first three matches, including an emphatic home win over Bayern Munich. However, their momentum was halted by a 1-0 defeat to Brugge. A thrilling 4-2 victory over Celtic in their final group game ensured they finished in the top eight and advanced directly to the last 16.
Unai Emery, who has previously guided Valencia, PSG, and Villarreal through the Champions League knockouts, will look to use his European expertise to keep Villa’s campaign alive. However, his squad has been plagued by injuries, and their away form has been concerning, with nine losses in their last 12 road games.
Despite sitting 10th in the Premier League, Villa remains in contention for European qualification. Securing a positive result in Belgium will be crucial before they host Brugge in the second leg at Villa Park.
Brugge’s biggest injury concern is midfielder Raphael Onyedika, who missed the recent 1-1 draw with Gent due to a muscle issue. Defender Bjorn Meier is also ruled out. Hans Vanaken, a vital part of Brugge’s midfield, will be expected to lead, with rising talent Chemsdine Talbi providing attacking support for Ferran Jutgla.
For Villa, Marco Asensio has been in top form, scoring four goals in his last three games. Emiliano Martinez, recently returning from injury, boasts an 85% save rate in European competition. Midfielder Youri Tielemans will return to his homeland, having made his Champions League debut for Anderlecht over a decade ago.
Boubacar Kamara is expected to be available, but Pau Torres (ankle), Amadou Onana (thigh), and Ross Barkley (calf) are still sidelined. Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash remain doubtful, while Andres Garcia and Donyell Malen are ineligible.
Club Brugge predicted lineup Mignolet Seys Ordonez Mechele De Cuyper Jashari Vetlesen Talbi Vanaken Tzolis Jutgla
Aston Villa predicted lineup Martinez Cash Konsa Bogarde Digne Kamara Tielemans McGinn Asensio Rogers Watkins
Brugge’s home advantage will make them a formidable opponent, while Villa’s poor away form remains a concern. However, with attacking threats on both sides, Villa should find a goal and keep their hopes alive for the second leg. Final prediction 1-1
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