Marco Asensio ignites Aston Villa's Champions League charge

The Villans secured a commanding 6-1 aggregate victory in the last-16 tie, setting up a mouthwatering clash with Paris St Germain.

Manager Unai Emery hailed the achievement but insisted his side are hungry for more. "For our club, it's massive to reach the Champions League quarter-finals," Emery said after the win.

"To face Paris St Germain is something we have to be proud of, but we want to compete against the best teams in the world. Our priority now is to match the level we're up against."

The match turned early when Brugge's Kyriani Sabbe was sent off just 17 minutes in for fouling Marcus Rashford as the last defender.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Brugge pushed forward, with captain Hans Vanaken nearly marking his 50th Champions League appearance with a header that drifted just wide. Chemsdine Talbi also tested Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with a fierce strike, only for the Argentine to deny him with a superb save.

Villa, however, struggled to capitalise in the first half, with Rashford firing into the side-netting from close range. Emery admitted frustration with his team's initial display. "The first half wasn't good enough," he said. "We didn't take advantage early, but after the break, we showed our quality."

The game-changer came at half-time when Emery introduced Asensio and Leon Bailey. Within five minutes, the substitutes combined brilliantly, Bailey's delicate chip found Asensio, who smashed his sixth goal in five games into the roof of the net.

The floodgates opened as Ian Maatsen slotted home from Morgan Rogers' cutback, before Asensio tapped in his second from Rashford's low cross, sealing a devastating 15-minute spell.

Emery reserved special praise for Asensio, who joined Villa from PSG in January. "We're delighted with him," the manager said. "He's not 100 percent yet, so we're protecting him. He wanted to start, but I held him back. When we needed him, he stepped up and delivered."

Looking ahead, Emery acknowledged the challenge posed by PSG, who earned their quarter-final spot with a victory over Liverpool. "They showed their strength against the best team in Europe," he said. "It's a huge test, but we're excited and motivated."

Villa's confidence is soaring, with four straight wins across all competitions, their best run since the season began.

Meanwhile, Brugge's hopes of a first-ever Champions League quarter-final were dashed, with manager Nicky Hayen lamenting Sabbe's red card as the turning point in a tie that saw his side suffer consecutive European defeats for the first time this campaign.

A recent post from Aston Villa's official X account celebrated the victory, stating: "Into the quarter-finals! A night to remember at Villa Park as Marco Asensio shines." Emery also shared his pride on X, posting: "Big win, big performance. Now we prepare for PSG, another step forward for this team."

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