Aston Villa will travel to Belgium on Tuesday night for a crucial first-leg showdown against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. After an impressive group-stage campaign, the Villans seek to advance to the knockout rounds, but they will need to overcome a Club Brugge side that has already proven to be a tricky opponent.
Path to the Knockouts
Unai Emery’s squad avoided the drama of the play-off round by securing a top-eight finish in the league phase. Meanwhile, Club Brugge had to battle through the play-offs, where they produced a statement victory over Atalanta, winning both legs to book their place in the last 16.
Villa have already faced the Belgian giants this season, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Jan Breydel Stadium in November. A second-half penalty from Hans Vanaken was the difference in that encounter, following a costly error from Tyrone Mings. This time, the Premier League side will be eager to set the record straight and return to Villa Park with a strong result.
Match Details
- Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium
- Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Kick-Off Time: 17:45 GMT / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
- Referee: Joao Pedro da Silva Pinheiro (Portugal)
- VAR: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins (Portugal)
Recent Form
Both teams come into this match with mixed form across all competitions.
- Gent 1-1 Club Brugge (March 1)
- Club Brugge 1-2 Standard Liege (February 23)
- Atalanta 1-3 Club Brugge (February 18)
- St Truiden 2-2 Club Brugge (February 15)
- Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta (February 12)
- Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff (February 28)
- Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa (February 25)
- Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea (February 22)
- Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool (February 19)
- Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich (February 15)
Where to Watch – TV & Streaming Info
Fans can catch the action live through various broadcasters worldwide:
- UK: TNT Sports 1, discovery+
- USA: Paramount+, TUDN USA, ViX, UniMas
- Canada: DAZN Canada
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Manager Nicky Hayen has a relatively fit squad but will likely be without Raphael Onyedika, who remains sidelined with an injury that saw him miss the weekend clash against Gent. Left-back Bjorn Meier also remains out, having been absent since late January.
The hosts will lean heavily on Hans Vanaken, their chief playmaker, who has been instrumental in both domestic and European competitions this season. With 16 goals and assists in the Jupiler Pro League and two more in the Champions League, he will be the key man for Brugge.
Predicted Club Brugge Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari, Vetlesen; Talbi; Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
Aston Villa Team News
Aston Villa will be without Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia, as both January signings were not registered in the Champions League squad. Pau Torres and Amadou Onana also remain unavailable due to long-term injuries.
Tyrone Mings, who missed the FA Cup fixture against Cardiff, remains a doubt. However, Emiliano Martinez and Boubacar Kamara returned last week and are expected to start. Matty Cash and Ross Barkley could also make their comebacks, adding depth to Emery’s squad selection.
Predicted Aston Villa Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Bogarde, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Rogers, Asensio, Ramsey; Watkins
Match Prediction
Aston Villa might enter this tie as slight favorites over two legs, but traveling to Bruges presents a tough challenge. Club Brugge have only suffered three home defeats all season, showcasing their strength on familiar turf.
Villa will need to be disciplined at the back and avoid mistakes similar to their last visit. With fatigue from a demanding fixture list also playing a role, Unai Emery’s side must remain sharp to secure a positive result.
Prediction: Club Brugge 1-1 Aston Villa
