BIRMINGHAM:
Marco Asensio starred as Aston Villa beat 10-man Membership Brugge 3-0 on Wednesday to e-book a Champions League quarter-final conflict with Paris Saint-Germain.
Asensio got here off the bench to strike twice within the second half of the last-16 second leg at Villa Park.
The in-form Spanish ahead has netted seven instances since becoming a member of on mortgage from PSG within the January switch window and is about for a reunion along with his mother or father membership within the final eight.
Brugge had Kyriani Sabbe despatched off for an expert foul on Marcus Rashford early within the first half and Asensio ensured Villa finally took benefit.
Ian Maatsen scored in between Asensio’s brace as Unai Emery’s facet romped to a 6-1 combination victory.
With Prince William, a famous Villa fan, celebrating within the stands, the Premier League outfit are by means of to the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite membership competitors for the primary time in 42 years.
Their exit in opposition to Juventus at that stage in 1982-83 was Villa’s final look within the European Cup — the forerunner to the Champions League — till this season.
Emery’s males are the primary group to achieve the Champions League quarter-finals of their debut season within the competitors since Atalanta in 2019-20.
Wins in opposition to Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Celtic are among the many Champions League highlights for Emery’s males this time period. PSG are subsequent of their sights after the Ligue 1 leaders’ penalty shoot-out win at Liverpool on Tuesday.
Dealing with PSG in April can have additional that means for Emery, who spent two turbulent seasons in cost at PSG, successful the French title in 2018 however struggling within the Champions League.
It is just the second time Emery has made it previous the Champions League final 16 after he took Villarreal to the semi-finals in 2022.
A repeat of their well-known European Cup-winning marketing campaign in 1982 would possibly show past Villa, however they’ve created recollections of lifetime of their fairytale run this season.
Songs of reward
As fireworks crackled over Villa Park earlier than kick-off, followers within the Holte Finish unfurled an enormous flag emblazoned with the motto “Ready”.
It was a message their group initially appeared to disregard. Brugge captain Hans Vanaken glanced a header simply broad of the far publish in a assured begin from the guests. Raphael Onyedika’s goal-bound was blocked by Villa defender Ezri Konsa, an opportunity that provoked anxious groans from fretting followers.
Villa misplaced 1-0 at Brugge within the league section and wanted two objectives within the closing eight minutes to take management within the last-16 first leg. However Brugge had by no means gained in England in 14 journeys and people nervous Villa supporters needn’t have frightened as the stress was lifted right away by Rashford’s blistering tempo.
Accelerating onto Emiliano Martinez’s lengthy punt within the seventeenth minute, Rashford was hauled down by Sabbe on the sting of the realm, with the Brugge defender dismissed for denying a transparent goalscoring alternative.
From the free-kick, Youri Tielemans’ drive pressured Simon Mignolet to make a sprawling save low to his proper. Emery made an impressed double substitution on the interval, sending on Asensio and Leon Bailey in a transfer that paid instant dividends.
The pair mixed to interrupt the impasse within the fiftieth minute as Bailey’s go reached Asensio contained in the Brugge space and he swivelled to complete with aplomb.