Aston Villa’s flawless Champions League journey took a shocking twist on Wednesday night, as a baffling error from Tyrone Mings gifted Club Brugge a decisive penalty, leading to a 1-0 defeat. The incident not only halted Villa’s perfect start but left Mings red-faced in his long-awaited Champions League debut.
The match at Jan Breydel Stadium was largely subdued until the 52nd minute, when Mings inexplicably picked up the ball, mistakenly thinking it was out of play after a pass from goalkeeper Emi Martinez. The referee promptly awarded a penalty, which Brugge’s Hans Vanaken converted, delighting the home crowd and sealing Villa’s fate.
Villa defender Ezri Konsa reflected on the shocking turn of events, expressing disbelief at the situation. “To be honest, I didn’t see it. I just saw players running to the ref shouting ‘handball’,” Konsa told *TNT Sports*. “It’s one of those moments that just killed the game. Mings was already on a yellow; if it’s deliberate, then he should’ve been sent off.”
“It was a mistake, but it’s not something we usually see. It happened, and we just have to move on,” Konsa added.
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Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, admitted that the unusual error shifted the game’s momentum completely. “In the second half, the mistake changed everything. A team like Brugge, playing at home and defensively strong, focused all their energy on shutting us down,” Emery said.
The setback comes as a surprise for Villa, who were enjoying a stellar run in their first Champions League appearance in 41 years. After winning their first three matches, Villa now sit on nine points, with Liverpool remaining the only team in their group with a perfect record. Meanwhile, Brugge’s victory lifts them to six points, adding a twist to the competition.
The game marked Mings’ return to European competition after a grueling 445-day recovery from a knee injury. Unfortunately, the mistake overshadowed his efforts and handed Villa their first Champions League concession.
Villa’s defeat adds an unexpected layer of drama to the Champions League race. Will Emery’s squad bounce back from this setback? Fans can follow *The Trumpet* for all the latest on Villa’s Champions League journey.
