Asensio double for rampant Villa sinks 10-man Brugge

When Unai Emery accepted the challenge of reviving Aston Villa at a time when the club was fretting about relegation to the Championship, he voiced his desire to return to European competition.

- Ben Fisher

It was punchy, part of a grand plan and, for supporters, a particularly exciting soundbite, but back then the prospect of a Champions League quarter-final date with Paris Saint-Germain, one of Emery's former clubs, felt fanciful. The Villa manager has unequivocally delivered on his wish. The Champions League furniture: the oversized badges, the giant tifos and 3D signage will get at least another outing this season. "Paris away, olé olé," a delirious Holte End sang.

The PSG loanee Marco Asensio continued his fine goalscoring run to accelerate clear of Club Brugge on the night, his sixth and seventh goals for the club bookending a routine victory after the visitors were reduced to 10 men early in the first half. Asensio, a half-time arrival, opened the scoring, Ian Maatsen doubled Villa's lead and then Asensio added another just past the hour. By that point Prince William had been throwing his arms in the air in both frustration and jubilation.