Marco Asensio Stars As Aston Villa Beat Club Brugge To Book PSG Showdown

Marco Asensio starred as Aston Villa beat 10-man Club Brugge 3-0 on Wednesday to book a Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Asensio came off the bench to strike twice in the second half of the last-16 second leg at Villa Park. The in-form Spanish forward has netted seven times since joining on loan from PSG in the January transfer window and is set for a reunion with his parent club in the last eight. Brugge had Kyriani Sabbe sent off for a professional foul on Marcus Rashford early in the first half and Asensio ensured Villa eventually took advantage.

Ian Maatsen scored in between Asensio's brace as Unai Emery's side romped to a 6-1 aggregate victory.

With Prince William, a noted Villa fan, celebrating in the stands, the Premier League outfit are through to the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition for the first time in 42 years.

Their exit against Juventus at that stage in 1982-83 was Villa's last appearance in the European Cup -- the forerunner to the Champions League -- until this season.

Emery's men are the first team to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut season in the competition since Atalanta in 2019-20.

Wins against Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Celtic are among the Champions League highlights for Emery's men this term.

PSG are next in their sights after the Ligue 1 leaders' penalty shoot-out win at Liverpool on Tuesday.

Facing PSG in April will have extra meaning for Emery, who spent two turbulent seasons in charge at PSG, winning the French title in 2018 but struggling in the Champions League.

It is only the second time Emery has made it past the Champions League last 16 after he took Villarreal to the semi-finals in 2022.

A repeat of their famous