Unai Emery's Aston Villa clinched a vital two-goal lead against Club Brugge, driven by Marco Asensio's impact. Despite struggles during the match, Villa's early success, including an own goal from Brugge and a penalty converted by Asensio, set a firm stage for the upcoming second leg. Tyrone Mings, returning from a previous blunder in Brugge, also had a crucial role in the match. The game highlighted Villa's focus on maintaining their advantage and potentially advancing in the tournament, with the players' past experiences influencing their performance.
Just as Emery was getting hot under the collar on another awkward night at Club Brugge, a rare moment of quality snatched this game away from the hosts.
The mere presence of Asensio and Ollie Watkins seemed to spook Brandon Mechele into diverting Morgan Rogers's superb cross into his own net.
Despite a dream start on their return to Belgium, it is hard to argue a two-goal advantage is not a sizeable buffer before next Wednesday's second leg.
It was in the league-phase meeting between these sides in November when Mings gifted Brugge a penalty after inexplicably picking the ball up.
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