Aston Villa Slip to First Champions League Defeat in 1-0 Loss to Club Brugge

Aston Villa’s unbeaten run in the Champions League came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge, where a first-half penalty proved decisive. In a tightly contested encounter, the Belgian champions secured their second win in four group games, capitalizing on a costly mistake by Villa's defense.

The turning point came when a miscommunication between Tyrone Mings and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez led to Mings handling the ball inside his own area. Brugge captain Hans Vanaken stepped up and converted the resulting penalty with composure, putting the hosts ahead.

Villa, struggling to respond, produced a lackluster performance that saw them fail to mount a comeback. With an xG (expected goals) of only 0.42, the visitors managed just one shot on target throughout the game, falling short of their usual attacking threat. In contrast, Brugge registered a 1.34 xG, underscoring their greater attacking intent and organization on the day.

The win boosts Brugge’s Champions League campaign ahead of their trip to Celtic Park later this month, while Aston Villa will look to regroup and reignite their campaign when they host Juventus.