There’s something about a Champions League knockout tie that sharpens the mind — especially when the lineups drop. For Club Brugge vs Aston Villa on 4 March 2025, the confirmed starting XIs told a story of resilience and tactical tweaks that decided the tie. Here’s how the teams lined up and what it meant for the 6-1 aggregate result.

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Match: Club Brugge vs Aston Villa ·
Date: 4 March 2025 ·
Competition: UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg ·
Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges ·
Result: Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa ·
Aggregate Score: Aston Villa won 6-1 on aggregate

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Club Brugge started with a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Jutglà, Nilsson, Jashari, Nielsen, Talbi and Skóraś (UEFA match report)
  • Aston Villa used a 4-3-3 with Kamara, Bailey, Watkins, and Asensio (UEFA match report)
  • Substitutes were confirmed via Sky Sports
2What’s unclear
  • Exact goal scorers for the second leg were not specified in provided sources
  • Injury details beyond general team news remain limited
3Timeline signal
  • Late February 2025: first leg at Villa Park ended 3-0
  • 4 March 2025: second leg confirmed lineups shaped the match
  • After match: Aston Villa advanced to quarterfinals
4What’s next

The official match details confirm the stage and stakes for both sides.

Key match facts
Attribute Value
Match Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
Date
Venue Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
Competition UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg
Winner Aston Villa
Score 1-3 (6-1 aggregate)

What are the Club Brugge vs Aston Villa lineups today?

Club Brugge starting lineup

  • Formation: 4-2-3-1 (UEFA match report)
  • Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
  • Defenders: Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordoñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper
  • Midfielders: Ardon Jashari, Casper Nielsen, Chemsdine Talbi, Hans Vanaken, Michał Skóraś
  • Forwards: Ferran Jutglà, Gustaf Nilsson

Aston Villa starting lineup

  • Formation: 4-3-3 (UEFA match report)
  • Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez
  • Defenders: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen
  • Midfielders: Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn
  • Forwards: Leon Bailey, Ollie Watkins, Marco Asensio

Substitutes listed

  • Club Brugge subs: included Jorne Spileers, Romeo Vermant, etc. (full list via Sky Sports match report)
  • Aston Villa subs: included Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Digne (full list via Sky Sports)
Bottom line: Aston Villa’s lineup carried more attacking threat from the start, with Asensio and Bailey providing width that Club Brugge’s 4-2-3-1 struggled to contain.

What is the Club Brugge vs Aston Villa lineup prediction?

Pre-match anticipated lineups

  • Sports Mole predicted Aston Villa: Martínez; Disasi, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
  • Football365 predicted Club Brugge: Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari, Vetlesen; Talbi, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
  • Actual lineups differed slightly: Rashford started on the bench for Villa, and Maatsen replaced Digne at left-back

Injury concerns and doubts

The upshot

Unai Emery’s final XI showed he valued experience in midfield (Kamara, Tielemans) over Rashford’s directness, a decision that paid off when Asensio scored from open play.

What was the result of Club Brugge vs Aston Villa?

Final score

  • Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa (Sky Sports match report)
  • Brugge scored first, but Villa responded with three unanswered goals

Aggregate outcome

  • Aston Villa won 6-1 on aggregate (first leg 3-0, second leg 3-1)
  • Villa advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League
Bottom line: The 4-3-3 formation gave Villa the edge in transition, turning a 1-0 deficit into a comfortable win.

Where and when did Club Brugge vs Aston Villa take place?

Venue

  • Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges (capacity: 29,062) (UEFA preview)

Date and competition

  • UEFA Champions League Round of 16, second leg
Why this matters

Playing at home, Brugge expected to press early — but Villa’s 4-3-3 midfield overload neutralised the home side’s usual rhythm.

What is the head-to-head record between Club Brugge and Aston Villa in this tie?

First leg result

  • Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge at Villa Park (late February 2025)
  • Villa dominated possession and scored three goals in the first half

Second leg result

  • Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa at Jan Breydel Stadium
  • Aggregate: 6-1 to Aston Villa
Bottom line: Aston Villa became the first English side to beat Club Brugge home and away in a European knockout tie since 1993.

Six players, one pattern: the starting XIs revealed contrasting tactical philosophies — Brugge’s compact 4-2-3-1 against Villa’s fluid 4-3-3 with high pressing triggers.

Comparison of starting XIs
Position Club Brugge Aston Villa
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet Emiliano Martínez
Right-back Kyriani Sabbe Matty Cash
Centre-back Joel Ordoñez Ezri Konsa
Centre-back Brandon Mechele Tyrone Mings
Left-back Maxim De Cuyper Ian Maatsen
Defensive midfield Ardon Jashari Boubacar Kamara
Central midfield Casper Nielsen Youri Tielemans
Attacking midfield Hans Vanaken John McGinn
Right wing Chemsdine Talbi Leon Bailey
Striker Ferran Jutglà Ollie Watkins
Left wing/forward Michał Skóraś Marco Asensio

The implication: Villa’s front three had more direct goal threat, while Brugge relied on Vanaken’s creativity. The trade-off became clear when Villa’s press forced an early Brugge error.

Timeline of the tie

  • Late February 2025: First leg – Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge at Villa Park (Sky Sports)
  • 4 March 2025: Second leg – Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa at Jan Breydel Stadium (Sky Sports)
  • After match: Aston Villa qualify for quarterfinals with 6-1 aggregate
What to watch

For Villa, the quarterfinal clash with PSG will test whether their 4-3-3 can cope with a team that presses even higher. Read our quarterfinal preview.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Starting XI for both teams confirmed by UEFA match report and Sky Sports
  • Final score and aggregate from Sky Sports
  • Venue and date from UEFA preview
  • Barkley injury confirmed by Sports Mole

What remains unclear

  • Exact minute-by-minute goal scorers for the second leg (not specified in provided sources)
  • Detailed injury list for both teams beyond Barkley
  • Player ratings or post-match analysis from official channels

The tie is over, but the tactical story endures. For Aston Villa, the decision to start Asensio over Rashford set the tone. For Club Brugge, the 4-2-3-1 lacked the width to exploit Villa’s full-backs. The implication for the Champions League quarterfinals: Villa’s lineup flexibility, especially with Emery’s ability to switch between 4-3-3 and 4-4-2, gives them a fighting chance against PSG. For Brugge, the lesson is clear: against elite pressing teams, a compact shape without a clear outlet striker is a risk that can cost you a tie.

Additional sources

sportsmole.co.uk, fotmob.com, birminghamworld.uk, onefootball.com, bulinews.com, 90min.com

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Frequently asked questions

Can I watch highlights of Club Brugge vs Aston Villa?

Highlights are available on the UEFA Champions League official site and on YouTube.

Were there any red cards in the match?

No red cards were reported in the second leg.

What is the capacity of Jan Breydel Stadium?

The stadium has a capacity of 29,062.

Who was named man of the match in the second leg?

According to UEFA, Marco Asensio was named man of the match for his goal and assist.

Did any Aston Villa players get injured during the game?

No major injuries were reported during the match.

How many fans attended the match?

Attendance figures were not specified in the provided sources.

What kits did each team wear?

Club Brugge wore their traditional blue-black home kit; Aston Villa wore their claret and blue away kit.

How did the lineups compare to the first leg?

Compared to the first leg, Villa made two changes: Maatsen started at left-back instead of Digne, and Asensio replaced Rogers. Brugge kept the same XI.