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.

After a lengthy injury absence that kept Tyrone Mings out of action for 14 months, he would have relished the opportunity to start the Champions League match against Club Bruges. Mings, capped 18 times by England,

Aston Villa gave away an unusual penalty for handball in a 1-0 loss in the Champions League against Club Brugge.

After beating BSC Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna, Villa are looking to retain their 100 per cent record in the Champions League by defeating a Brugge side who have won one and lost two of their opening three games. They defeated Sturm Graz between losses suffered to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.