Aston Villa completed a comfortable passage into a Champions League quarter-final with Paris St-Germain after cruising to victory against Club Brugge at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side were in prime position as they protected a 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Belgium, putting the tie out of the reach of the visitors following the half-time introduction of on-loan talisman Marco Asensio.
A risk-free first 45 minutes was only notable for Club Brugge defender Kyriani Sabbe’s 16th-minute red card for hauling back Marcus Rashford as he chased keeper Emiliano Martinez’s long clearance.
Asensio, outstanding since his arrival from PSG, secured Aston Villa’s passage into the last eight five minutes after coming on with a neat finish from Leon Bailey’s clever pass.
Ian Maatsen added the second from close range seven minutes later, his first for the club, following good work by Morgan Rogers, then Asensio added his second and Villa’s third after 61 minutes. It was a simple finish set up perfectly by Rashford.
It means Emery and Asensio will both face their former club, conquerors of Liverpool at the last-16 stage, in the last eight of the Champions League.
