UCL: Aston Villa claim first leg advantage with 3-1 win over Club Brugge

Aston Villa took control of their Champions League round of 16 tie with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge in Belgium.

Despite an early setback, the Premier League side showed resilience to claim a crucial first-leg advantage.

Villa struck first through Leon Bailey. However, their lead was short-lived as Maxim De Cuyper equalized just nine minutes later.

Both teams pushed for the advantage in the second half. Marco Asensio was denied by a sharp save from Simon Mignolet, while Tyrone Mings’ last-ditch intervention kept out a goal-bound header from Hans Vanaken.

The breakthrough for Villa came in the 83rd minute when Morgan Rogers’ cross forced Brandon Mechele into an own goal.

Just two minutes later, Matty Cash won a penalty, and Asensio converted from the spot to seal the victory.

With a two-goal cushion, Villa head into the second leg in a commanding position, while Brugge face a tough battle to keep their European hopes alive.