UCL: Villa’s winning streak ends with 1-0 defeat to Club Brugge

A bizarre penalty incident dashed Aston Villa’s perfect Champions League run, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Club Brugge in Belgium.

During the second half, Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gently nudged the ball forward to take a goal kick, but defender Tyrone Mings, mistakenly believing play had not restarted, picked up the ball in the penalty area.

German referee Tobias Stieler awarded Brugge a penalty for Mings’ handball, sparking frustration from Villa manager Unai Emery. Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converted from the spot, securing the only goal of the game.

It was an unfortunate moment for Mings, who, despite making a critical goal-line clearance earlier, found himself at the center of this costly error on his Champions League debut.

This match marked only his second appearance back after a lengthy 14-month recovery from an ACL injury.

Villa, who had previously triumphed in their opening three games, including a nostalgic 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, a rematch of the 1982 European Cup final, missed the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in their group.

This defeat also extends their winless streak across all competitions to four games. They now face the formidable task of taking on Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday.