Club Brugge vs Aston Villa lineups: confirmed XI, how to watch

There’s something about a European knockout night that sharpens the focus, especially when a Belgian side hosts an English Premier League team with genuine continental ambition. On 4 March 2025, Club Brugge welcomed Aston Villa to the Jan Breydel Stadium for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie – a match that ended 3-1 to the visitors.

Date of match: 4 March 2025 · Competition: UEFA Champions League Round of 16 · Final score: Club Brugge 1–3 Aston Villa · Kickoff time (CET): 21:00 · Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Brugge

Five key facts frame the match – one pattern: the data confirms a tight contest with clear tactical choices from both managers.

Who is favored to win: Aston Villa or Club Brugge?

Betting odds and form factors

Aston Villa entered the first leg as the bookmakers’ favorite, according to analysis from Sports Mole (football news). Villa’s higher UEFA coefficient and strong Premier League form gave them an edge, but Club Brugge’s home record at Jan Breydel Stadium made this a tricky fixture. The result – a 3-1 win for Villa – validated that favoritism, though the hosts pushed hard after De Cuyper’s equaliser.

The contrast between the teams’ recent runs shapes the tie.

The pattern: Villa’s controlled victory confirmed their pre-match favoritism, but Brugge’s fighting spirit suggests the tie is not over.

Club Brugge vs Aston Villa lineups: confirmed starting XI

Club Brugge starting 11 (4-2-3-1)

Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen made three changes from the previous domestic fixture, bringing in Christos Tzolis and Raphael Onyedika, as reported by Sports Mole (football news). The confirmed lineup from Sports Mole (football news) shows:

• Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
• Defenders: Kyriani Sabbe (right-back), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper (left-back)
• Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken
• Forwards: Chemsdine Talbi, Christos Tzolis, Ferran Jutglà

Aston Villa starting 11 (4-2-3-1)

Unai Emery made four changes from Villa’s previous FA Cup match, shifting Ezri Konsa to right-back and starting Axel Disasi, per Sports Mole (football news). The confirmed XI from Sports Mole (football news):

• Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
• Defenders: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen
• Midfielders: Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans
• Forwards: Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Leon Bailey
• Striker: Ollie Watkins

Substitutes bench

Key substitutes for Club Brugge included Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Casper Nielsen, and Michal Skoras, as noted by Sports Mole (football news). Aston Villa’s bench featured Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, and others, though the full list was not published in the research.

The pattern: both teams opted for experienced, settled formations, but Emery’s tactical tweaks (Konsa at right-back) proved decisive in the second half.

How to watch Club Brugge vs Aston Villa on TV and stream

TV and streaming platforms

In the United States, the match was broadcast on CBS Sports and streamed on Paramount+. In the United Kingdom, TNT Sports held the rights. Official highlights were later available on UEFA.tv. Kickoff was at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT, 15:00 ET), as confirmed by Sports Mole (football news).

Time zone conversions

• New York (EST): 3:00 PM
• London (GMT): 8:00 PM
• Brussels (CET): 9:00 PM
• Los Angeles (PST): 12:00 PM

The implication: Fans had clear options to watch, with time zones favoring European and African audiences but inconvenient for US West Coast.

Aston Villa news: who is the 17 year old player and other squad updates

Brian Madjo signing

Aston Villa signed 17-year-old midfielder Brian Madjo from FC Metz in February 2025, as reported by The Soccer Blog (match reports). Madjo is considered a promising youth prospect for the club’s academy.

Michelle Agyemang background

Michelle Agyemang is a women’s football player at Aston Villa, not related to the men’s squad for this match. The confusion sometimes arises from shared club branding.

Dick van Dijk old player trivia

Dick van Dijk was a Dutch footballer who played for clubs including Ajax and the Netherlands national team in the 1960s and 1970s. He is not currently involved with either Club Brugge or Aston Villa.

The catch: While Madjo’s signing points to future promise, the first-leg result relied on experienced internationals – showing Emery’s balanced squad planning.

Who owns Club Brugge? Club ownership and financial context

Club Brugge ownership structure

Club Brugge is majority owned by Belgian businessman Bart Verhaeghe, confirmed by Sofascore (statistics) and widely reported. Verhaeghe made his fortune in the pharmaceutical and investment sectors.

Is Club Brugge Catholic?

Club Brugge does not have a formal religious affiliation today, but the club’s origins in the early 20th century had loose ties to Catholic social circles, a common pattern for many Belgian clubs.

Richest club owner in the world comparison

The richest club owner globally is the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, followed by Sheikh Mansour of Manchester City. Bart Verhaeghe’s wealth is not comparable to those sovereign-backed owners – his net worth is estimated in the low hundreds of millions.

The pattern: Verhaeghe’s model relies on smart transfers and Belgian talent development, not state-level spending.

Aston Villa defeated Club Brugge 3-1 thanks to an own goal and a late penalty.

Sofascore (statistics)

The 17-year-old midfielder joined Aston Villa from FC Metz in February 2025.

The Soccer Blog (match reports)

The first-leg result puts Aston Villa in control, but Club Brugge’s away goal from De Cuyper keeps the tie alive. For Villa fans, the message from the Jan Breydel performance is clear: Emery’s tactical adjustments work in Europe, but the second leg at Villa Park demands focus to avoid a comeback.

Related: PSG vs Inter Milan: 5-0 UCL Final Result & Highlights · Tottenham vs Bodø/Glimt Stats – 3-1 Result, Goals and Key Figures

For a deeper look at how the confirmed starting XIs compare to pre-match expectations, check out our analysis of predicted vs actual lineups for this Champions League tie.

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