Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa will take a two-goal lead into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Club Brugge after scoring twice in the closing stages at Jan Breydelstadion.

Playing a first knockout game in Europe’s top competition since 1983, the visitors made a lightning-fast start and took the lead inside three minutes via Leon Bailey’s second goal of the season.

Maxim De Cuyper responded for the hosts nine minutes later, burying a first-time shot from just inside the box to equalise, while Emi Martínez made a fine save from Kyriani Sabbe to ensure the scores remained level at the break.

Chances came and went for both sides before the away side upped the ante in the final ten minutes, regaining the lead when Morgan Rogers’ cross was turned into his own net by Brandon Mechele.

Marco Asensio put the finishing touches on a fine victory when he scored from the penalty spot in the 88^th minute, delighting the Villans who followed the team to Belgium.

Manager Unai Emery, who became just the fifth man to lead four or more clubs into the knockout stages of the competition, brought Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Rogers and Axel Disasi into the starting XI from the team’s previous outing.

And the Spaniard roared with delight inside three minutes as his charges got off to the perfect start.

Youri Tielemans’ floated free-kick was headed into the path of Bailey by Mings, with the winger sending a crisp half-volley arrowing into the bottom corner of Simon Mignolet’s goal.

Rashford saw a shot saved as Villa made an immediate dart for a second goal, but their lead lasted only nine minutes before Brugge pulled level.

Christos Tzolis collected a crossfield pass on the left and laid the ball back for the onrushing De Cuyper to lash past Martínez.

Brugge knocked out Atalanta in the play-off round, winning both legs, and they were looking to equal their longest winning run in the competition (3) with another triumph.

The hosts came close to gaining the initiative just past the half hour mark when only a fine save from Martínez kept out Sabbe’s close-range drive.

There was little to choose between the teams as the half-time whistle sounded, and the even nature of the contest continued at the start of the second half.

Raphael Onyedika’s rising drive was plucked out of the air by Martínez as Brugge fired the first shot after the interval, with Emery shuffling his pack and making four changes shortly after.

Asensio, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash were all introduced, and the changes had an almost immediate impact for the visitors.

Ramsey picked out Asensio in the box and the Spaniard’s snapshot was parried up into the air by Mignolet, with Cash sending the rebound over the crossbar.

A sudden surge in intensity went through the stadium as Brugge swept up the other end and came within inches of scoring when Hans Vanaken's angled header was sensationally cleared by Mings.

Both sides were well aware of the high stakes ahead of next week’s second leg as the match ticked into the final 15 minutes, and Tzolis skewed a wild effort wide when well placed to make it 2-1.

That missed opportunity took on extra significance when Villa regained the lead with eight minutes to play.

Kamara worked the ball into Rogers on the right and he drove at his man before sending in a cross that was turned past his own ‘keeper by a sliding Mechele, sparking joyous celebrations among the away fans.

Things got even better for the visitors with two minutes remaining when Asensio buried a penalty after Cash had been felled in the box, giving his side a two-goal lead to take back to Villa Park.