Club Brugge have been told that it is ‘Mission Impossible’ for them in the return leg of their Champions League clash against Aston Villa.
Voetbal Primeur cover comments from Sporza analyst Tom Boudeweel today in which he insists the Belgian side should not be expecting any big result against Aston Villa next week.
Unai Emery’s side ran out 3-1 winners against Brugge on Tuesday evening, with goals from Leon Bailey and Marco Asensio, either side of a Brandon Mechele own goal, handing them a clear advantage despite Maxim de Cuyper’s 12th minute equaliser.
The two sides will meet again in the second leg at Villa Park in a week’s time, with many expecting Aston Villa to progress to the last eight.
They would, though, be unwise to underestimate Brugge, who have already beaten them this season and the likes of Sporting Club de Portugal and Europa League champions Atalanta in this season’s competition.
The win over the Italians was particularly impressive, with a 3-1 win away from home in the knockout phase surprising many.
Boudeweel isn’t expecting another shock result like that, however, and believes that clash at Villa Park can be labelled as Mission Impossible for the Belgians.
“I think it will be very difficult. Don’t forget you are playing against a team from the Premier League with a huge budget,” he said.
“Okay, they are only 10th in England, and they certainly did not make an impression in these 2 matches, but Villa has only lost twice in 23 home matches. That was at the very beginning of the season against Arsenal in the league and then again in the less important League Cup.
“It is possible for Club, but then everything has to go well, like against Atalanta. But I don’t believe in it anymore. You could call it mission impossible.”
