A key metric with Emery is “duels” and no Villa player came out on top of their match-up. Club B ruges made three times as many interceptions and twice the number of clearances. Villa made four tackles in the attacking half, none in the attacking third, and their hosts, typically direct in style, grew in confidence when playing from deep.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has told his players to put one foot in the last 16 of the Champions League by beating Club Brugge on Wednesday night.Villa sit top of the table after winning the first three games and victory in Belgium would make them heavy favourites to finish in the top eight of the new league phase of the competition in their debut campaign.

Unai Emery has challenged Aston Villa to seize their chance to move a step closer to the Champions League last 16 against Club Brugge on Wednesday.Villa are on top of the Champions League table after reeling off three successive victories in their first appearance in Europe's elite club competition for 41 years.

Unai Emery believes seven more points should be enough for Aston Villa to secure a place in the top eight of the Champions League league phase table. They take on Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday night (5:45pm kick-off) looking to retain their 100 per cent start in the competition having beaten BSC Young Boys,