2 mins: Villa have enjoyed plenty of early position. They will be looking to settle themselves into the match and irritate the home fans.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
All those kids living their dream of being a mascot at a massive Champions League match and then being forced to be dressed like a credit card. Cheers Uefa.
The teams are out! Aston Villa are bedecked in white.
Jeremy Boyce emails: “Looking forward to the match, Brugge are evidently no slouches and the Villans will have to buck up their ideas if they mean to progress. Not sure with your analysis about Marcus. Who would pin their hopes on someone who has only just escaped the unceasing horrors and abandoned-at-sea experience of working for an ill-fated crew destined to suffer and die an abominable death.”
Unai Emery: “We know their potential and we know we have to be strong, defensively, offensively, tactically. We have to try to stop their gameplan and skills. We have to try to win the match, not concede. This is our challenge.
“We try always to improve. It is a good experience we had here. They deserve to be here, we deserve it, too, but today will be a different match. Hopefully we can show our best performance collectively and individually.”
A few more tasty games later in the night.
Borussia Dortmund v Lille
PSV v Arsenal
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
Arne Slot might have overreacted a little bit here.
I was at the Etihad when City, just about, overcame Club Brugge. Tzolis was on fine form that night for the Belgians, causing problems on the wing. I look forward to see him in action again tonight.
“Do you reckon that this reboot of In Bruges will top the black-comedy drama of the original?” asks Peter Oh.
I wait to see how Ben Fisher scripts it.
Marcus Rashford is given the nod on the left-hand side of attack. Unai Emery must be hoping he can use his European experience to help Aston Villa.
His Manchester United debut was in Europe and he did alright.
Starting lineups
Club Brugge (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari, Onyedika; Tzolis, Vanaken, Talbi; Jutgla
Subs: Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Vermant, Nilsson, Skoras, Nielsen, Siquet, Spillers, Campbell
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Konsa, Disasi, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Bailey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Pau Torres, Asesnio, Maatsen, Bogarde, Ramsey, Kamara
Referee: João Pinheiro
Nicky Hayen has gone from the Welsh Premier League to the Champions League pretty sharpish. I spoke to his former chairman at Haverfordwest about his time there (before Club Brugge Manchester City).
Ben Fisher and John McGinn combine to provide you with some preview material.
Preamble
A huge evening lies ahead for Aston Villa in Brugge. This is the Champions League last 16 and the favour has been relatively kind to the Premier League side who would expect to defeat their Belgian counterparts over two legs but they have already lost in Brugge this season. That loss was the result of some mild comedy/incompetence, depending on your point of you.
As John McGinn indicated in yesterday’s press conference, Villa are out for revenge and will be confident of providing it. Unai Emery’s side have been a mixed bag this season, partially down to the increase schedule caused by being involved in Europe’s top competition. They bolstered their options in January and will be hoping that is enough to take them far in the Champions League.
As for Club Brugge, they are overachieving with a fine team of youngsters. They caused problems for Manchester City in the final group game and then nigh-on humiliated Atalanta in the playoff. There is plenty of quality in their ranks and they will be eager to show it on the biggest stage once more.
Kick-off: 5.45pm GMT
