Club Brugge vs Aston Villa - Champions League RECAP: Villans beaten in Belgium after the most incredible penalty GAFFE as Unai Emery's side drop points for the first time

Right, I better shoot. I can hear Milan calling.

It was a night to forget for Unai Emery's Aston Villa as they dropped points in the Champions League for the first time this season.

Villa are now winless in their last four matches and this is becoming a bit more of a concerning blip than first thought.

While the manner of defeat was rather bizarre as Tyrone Mings picked up the ball in his own box, Villa were still drastically off their best.

Anyway, it's time for me to go and cover Arsenal, so please come and join me for what will be a cracker.

See you there!

I'm still in total disbelief, I really am.

I defended Tyrone Mings when I first saw this penalty given, but I have changed my mind.

What is Mings thinking? Why did he think he could pick up the ball in this scenario.

A monster mistake that lost Aston Villa the match.

Every player who has played in the Champions League can remember his debut in the competition and Tyrone Mings will recall his for all the wrong reasons.

It's over now!

Aston Villa's 100 per cent record in this season's Champions League is now over.

The hosts take all three points in bizarre circumstances thanks to a second-half penalty.

Not Villa's night.

All eyes on the referee now.

The ball is with Club Brugge and we have gone past the allotted five minutes.

Surely it's over now?

The whistles are non-stop inside this stadium despite there being three more minutes of stoppage time.

Club Brugge are just camped in their own box now as Aston Villa get everybody forward.

Just put it in the mixer!

Aston Vila have five minutes to rescue a point, can they manage it?

The opening seconds of it are marked by a Boubacar Kamara booking.

Brugge make another change as we head into stoppage time.

Romeo Vermant replaces Ferran Jutgla who has put in one hell of a shift tonight.

Can Brugge hold out?

We could easily be in a UK stadium here. All the chants are to the tunes UK fans would recognise and the songs are being sung in English, too. Hasn’t made Villa feel at home, mind.

Brandon Mechele, I was not familiar with your game...

The centre-back beats Jhon Duran to the ball at the back and then skins Leon Bailey with a little skill.

Now that's confidence for you!

Oh, was that the chance?

The gaops finally appear for Aston Villa and Boubacar Kamara drives into it.

He has Jhon Duran on his left but decides to go along and drives the ball just past the bottom corner.

Close, but not close enough.

Aston Villa are really running out of time here.

The visitors just need a moment of magic here, but in all honesty, it doesn't look like it's going to come.

Club Brugge are on the cusp of a huge victory.

Taxi for Jhon Duran...

The substitute has been poor since coming on and he falls over as the ball comes to him in the box.

He won't want to watch that one again...

The final throw of the dice for Unai Emery...

He turns to both Emi Buendia and Kosta Nedeljkovic as Aston Villa push for an equaliser.

Ollie Watkins and Diego Carlos are the unlucky pair who are hooked by the Spaniard.

My word, Aston Villa really are all over the place.

Club Brugge carve them open again and the ball is played into substitute Bjorn Meijer in the box.

He then proves why he is a defender as he scuffs the ball comfortably wide.

If that was an attacker, Emi Martinez would have been called into action.

The hosts turn to the bench once again.

Hugo Vetlesen and Bjorn Meijer come on for the final 15-odd minutes.

Casper Nielsen and Christos Tzolis make way.

Unai Emery is going absolutely mental at his attackers on the touchline, he is not a happy bunny.

I mean, it's fair enough, his side have been particularly poor this evening.

Villa have created practically nothing in this second half.

That will be Andreas Skov Olsen's last involvement of the evening.

The Dane is replaced by Moroccan youngster Chemsdine Talbi who goes out to the right.

Can this youngster do some more damage?

Club Brugge nearly kill Aston Villa on the counter.

The hosts break away with Christos Tzolis on the left and he cuts the ball back for Andreas Skov Olsen.

The Dane sees his name in lights as he runs onto the ball but just can't keep his effort down.

That's a big moment...

Aston Villa are just all bark no bite at the moment.

They are having pretty much all the ball but I can't even recall the last time they created a decent chance.

It's been a really poor display, so far.

Tyrone Mings European debut is at its end...

He leaves the pitch looking rather gutted as he is replaced by Pau Torres for the remainder of this game.

Morgan Rogers' game is also over as Jacob Ramsey replaces him on the left wing.

Club Brugge are not just content with one goal, they are hungry for more.

Andreas Skov Olsen picks up the ball on the edge of the area and tries to drive it in via the near post.

But it takes a deflection and drifts just wide.

Aston Villa just aren't at the races here.

The Jan Breydel Stadium is bouncing and the Villans just can't seem to cope with it.

This would be some turnaround.

Emery will be livid with that. Absolutely livid. He watches countless opposition videos and plans his tactics to the last detail. Then his centre-back decides to pick up the ball after a goal-kick, giving away a penalty.

Here comes Unai Emery's trusted super-sub...

Jhon Duran is on for the visitors and he will partner up with Ollie Watkins after all.

John McGinn is the player to make way.

I'm still dumbstruck at what has just happened.

It was clear that Tyrone Mings was not doing that on purpose, surely common sense should prevail there.

Shambolic, really.

But I guess Aston Villa just have to get on with it now, although they look shell-shocked.

Hans Vanaken makes no mistake from the spot.

The Club Brugge captain hammers the ball down the middle and capitalises on Tyrone Mings' mistake.

What a way to concede your first goal in the Champions League this season.

This place goes berserk.

Oh my word.... what have we just seen??

Tyrone Mings gives away a penalty in the most bizarre of circumstances, I am shocked.

Emi Martinez passes him the ball from a goal kick and the defender just picks it up thinking he is meant to take it.

The referee then gives a penalty - I'm stunned.

The momentum of chances from the back end of the first half has certainly not carried into the second.

It's a lot calmer, so far, and Aston Villa are yet to get going after the break. They just don't seem at it tonight.

You know the saying 'it's being played at walking pace'?

Well, that is literally happening here as Diego Carlos is allowed to walk with the ball for around five seconds.

Let's hope that is not a sign of what is to come.

Jeez, that break went way too quickly.

The players are already back out on the turf in Belgium and there have been no changes at the break.

So, let's get cracking.

Wouldn’t surprise me to see Emery change it for the second half. Rogers is drifting in off the left but that gives Brugge an open corridor to attack down his flank. Maatsen needs more help in that zone.

Alan Hutton, former Aston Villa defender, speaking on TNT Sports:

Emi Martinez has been called into action too many times for Unai Emery's liking.

Emi Martinez was a busy boy in that half, wasn't he?

Club Brugge have been kicking at the door and the Argentine has made five stops already.

The best of the lot has to be the save he made from Christos Tzolis after Ferran Jutgla hit the post.

Where would Aston Villa be without him?

Stephen Warnock, former Aston Villa defender, on BBC Sport:

Villa have had a couple of chances but Ollie Watkins has been a bit isolated so far with John McGinn a bit deeper, behind him.

I expected Villa to create a lot more than they have done but it is Brugge who have had the best chances, when Villa have switched off.

Evidently not...

The whistle is blown and the ball has yet to hit the back of the net in Brugge.

The hosts have certainly had the better of the chances, but Aston Villa have had a few of their own.

This one hangs in the balance.

There will be just two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

Is that enough time for either side to find a goal?

Aston Villa are trying to calm this match back down.

Rather than going gung-ho, the midfield are just knocking the ball about to regain control.

A smart move based on the last few minutes.

I think Morgan Rogers needs to buy a ticket to get back into the stadium.

Andreas Skov Olsen has just rinsed him on the right-hand side before putting a cross in which is collected by Emir Martinez.

I mean, Skov Olsen just flew past the Villa man, as if he wasn't even there.

It's like a basketball game at this point, it's just so back and forth.

Aston Villa get bodies up the pitch but John McGinn decides to go alone.

He bends the ball from outside the box toward the bottom corner but it's easy for Simon Mignolet to collect.

How has Casper Nielsen not scored??

Club Brugge really should be ahead as the ball is clipped into the box for Nielsen to meet.

He is just yards from goal but for some reason tries to flick it on, and Tyrone Mings is there to clear by the line.

The chances are starting to come with regularity.

Those two chances have brought the atmosphere back to this stadium.

Well, it had until Morgan Rogers blasted the ball narrowly wide as I was typing the first sentence.

It's now blooming silent again, great.

My word, Club Brugge have come to life.

Ferran Jutgla is slid in and he smashes the ball against the posts as he tries to squeeze it past Emi Martinez.

The hosts then recycle the ball and Christos Tzolis forces Martinez into a strong save low to his right.

We truly have a game now.

Well, this is silly.

Both of Aston Villa's centre-backs now find themselves on a yellow card after just 25 minutes.

Tyron Mings leans an elbow in on Ferran Jutgla as they go for a header, leaving the striker in a heap on the floor.

He is rightfully booked and then Diego Carlos joins him after he moans to the referee.

Silly lads.

Another big chance goes begging for Aston Villa.

Boubacar Kamara plays a brilliant ball into the box for John McGinn to meet at the back post.

The skipper reaches it but can't keep his header down and the ball goes comfortably over the bar.

He should do much, much better.

Oh, I thought that was in!

Ollie Watkins comes within inches of opening the scoring for Aston Villa with a fine effort.

He does brilliantly in the area and then drags the ball back across goal in search of the far corner.

But it rolls agonisingly wide of the post.

Oooooft... that was close.

Club Brugge have not had much joy going forward but they come close to taking the lead here.

Ferran Jutgla makes a brilliant run in between the two centre-backs and the ball is clipped into the box for him to meet it.

But it's just overcooked and it goes all the way through to Emi Martinez in net.

Any touch from Jutgla and that's 1-0.

And now we have our first yellow card of the night.

Casper Nielsen bundles over Youri Tielemans and can have no complaints as the card is brandished.

I mean, as the camera panned to him all I could think about was how bad his moustache is...

We have our first real chance of the match and it falls to Aston Villa.

The visitors combine to play some lovely football before the ball comes across to Morgan Rogers.

He sets the ball out onto his right foot and tries to bend the ball into the bottom corner, but it takes a deflection and goes wide.

The corner is pretty pants, though.

Oh, Youri Tielemans...

The former Anderlecht man is goaded by the Club Brugge fans as he blasts over the bar from miles out.

He gives a wry smile as he walks back into position, I bet he loves the banter.

That is brilliant defending from Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez.

Leon Bailey sends through Ollie Watkins who has the Brugge defence backtracking.

The forward tries to burst past Ordonez and into the box but he gets bodied off the ball with ease.

I thought Watkins would do better there.

Aston Villa are starting to gain some more control of proceedings here and the atmosphere is dying as they do so.

The only time the crowd are making any noise is when Youri Tielemans gets the ball.

Villa trying something new here. It’s a 4-2-3-1 with McGinn playing off Watkins and Rogers on the left.

Club Brugge are already showing what they are made of here.

Aston Villa have given the ball away twice already as the hosts put them under pressure.

The visitors just need to keep calm here.

The Club Brugge supporters certainly don't like Youri Tielemans, they are booing the Aston Villa midfielder every time he touches the ball.

There is a good reason for that, though.

Tielemans came up through the ranks at their bitter rivals Anderlecht and played over 150 senior matches for them.

There is a moment of silence as the victims of the floods in Valencia are remembered.

The whistle then goes, cheers erupt, and we are ready to get going.

It is Club Brugges who gets us underway with the background of techno music once more.

Let's hope this is a cracker like the tune is.

Decent atmosphere building here though it’s still not quite full as we approach kick-off. Big boos for Youri Tielemans when his name was announced. Tielemans used to play for Anderlecht, Club’s great rivals.

My word, Club Brugge really know how to get their fans pumped up.

I am currently dancing in my chair as they blast some techno music over the speakers.

Considering I am now amped, I'm sure the players are too.

Sadly that music ends as the two teams arise from the tunnel, but luckily for us it is replaced by the Champions League anthem.

Not a bad tune to play instead, eh?

Unai Emery said yesterday that for Club Brugge, playing Villa at home would be as exciting as playing Bayern Munich was for Villa. That felt like a rare misstep from the Villa boss.

Along with Anderlecht, Club are one of the two giants of Belgian football. As Emery pointed out, they reached the semi-finals of the Conference League last season, just like Villa. This won’t be easy for Emery’s men.

Guys, it's time to get excited!

We are just 10 minutes away from kick-off here in Belgium, and the teams have completed their warm-ups.

I must say, it's a little bit nippy, but thankfully being a British side, Aston Villa are prepared for it.

Let's hope they heat things up with some great football on the pitch.

Erm, the speakers at the Jan Breydel Stadium are currently blasting 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.

Not the song I expected to hear tonight.

I guess Aston Villa are playing Liverpool at the weekend, so they have to get used to hearing it.

Simon Mignolet, Club Brugges, goalkeeper, speaking to TNT Sports:

When we play at home, we always want to win, even in the Champions League against a team like Aston Villa who are top.

They have a really good squad, play an attractive style going forward and it will be a challenge for us. It won't be easy, they have a good team and a lot of individual quality.

We always play a really good game, but we were not efficient enough to get the points. Tonight we need to score are our chances and get a clean sheet.

Club Brugge have a few players we may hear more about in the coming years. Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordonez and Maxim De Cuyper are all highly regarded, as well as Christos Tzolis.

It did not work out for Tzolis when he moved to Norwich three years ago but he may be given another crack at the top-five leagues. A good performance tonight would help.

Alan Hutton, former Aston Villa defender, speaking on TNT Sports:

Unai Emery has tried it [playing Watkins and Duran] and it didn't work for me. He likes things compact and he didn't get that, it was far to open. I don't think we will see him play two up top [again].

What a monumental night for Tyrone Mings.

This time last year the defender was in the early stages of his rehabilitation for a serious knee injury.

But now he is back playing on the biggest stages of all.

From starting for Chippenham Town in non-league football to Champions League football.

A special journey.

The omens are certainly in Aston Villa's favour going into tonight.

Club Brugge have lost their last three home Champions League matches, failing to score in each game.

In those three matches, they have conceded nine goals. They have only lost four on the bounce on one occasion, though.

To make Villa fans smile even more, Brugge have not beaten an English club in European football since 1995.

They are winless in their last 14 fixtures against English opposition, yikes.

A pretty poor recent record.

Oooh, I think I'd like that jacket.

It's not often you see football players arriving in a club kit and actually like the look of it.

Club Brugge have not just gone for your standard tracksuit which I like.

Anyway, I am getting sidetracked. The hosts are in the building and will be on the pitch very soon.

What a footballer Morgan Rogers is, eh?

Like Tom just said, there is a reason Unai Emery always finds a spot for him in his starting line-up.

Rogers is brilliant with the ball at his feet, he will take anyone on and usually come out the other side with the ball.

The Englishman has completed 16 dribbles for Aston Villa in the Champions League this season, sounds like a lot, right?

That's because it is. It's the most amount of dribbles on record* by an English player through the opening three games of a single campaign.

He's not just elegant with the ball either, he is also strong and powerful. Players can hardly shrug him off it.

I can't wait to see him in action again this evening.

*Records began in 2003-04

However Unai Emery chooses to use his squad, he’ll always have to make space for Morgan Rogers in the important games. The attacker’s ability to drop deep and accelerate past opponents with the ball is unique in this squad. Emery desperately needs him to stay healthy.

Well, this is interesting...

These are the types of games where Jhon Duran usually gets his runout, but not today.

Despite Ollie Watkins' poor performance in London at the weekend, he keeps his place up top.

I wonder how this makes Duran feel...

The Colombian striker has been utterly brilliant for Villa this year but still rarely gets the nod from the start.

I saw a clip of him looking stroppy in training the other day and now I think I understand why.

He won't be a happy bunny right now.

Fascinated to see how Boubacar Kamara goes tonight. He’s the one in the squad who can provide real balance in midfield. Villa have missed him and if he can get back up to speed quickly, they’re a different team.

Well, this is a blast from the past.

There is one name on there I am sure you all recognise, especially the Liverpool fas among the audience.

Yep, that is indeed Simon Mignolet in goal.

Another player to keep your eye on are Christos Tzolis, who was a part of the Greece side that beat England recently.

Brugge are a good side.

OK, so just the five changes from Unai Emery today.

Three of them come in defence as Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, and Ian Maatsen all come into the fold.

Meanwhile, Boubacar Kamara and Leon Bailey also come in as Emery mainly keeps with his trusted attack.

No Jhon Duran, which I must say is a little surprising.

Keeping on the conversation of Unai Emery, he adores playing the beautiful game against Belgian opponents.

The Spaniard has never lost to one in the Champions League having faced them four times.

Emery's teams have also never conceded against a Belgian opponent in this competition.

The statistics don't stop there, either.

He has won his last three games by an aggregate score of 16-0, with one victory while at Valencia, and the other two at PSG.

Pretty impressive, eh?

Unai Emery loves to utilise his squad, as all good managers should.

Last week, he made 10 changes when Aston Villa faced Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

He then did the same again when they faced Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

So, will he do it again tonight?

While Villa will be without Ross Barkley and Matty Cash due to minor injuries, I still expect Emery to ring the changes.

It could be another night for Jhon Duran to lead the line in the Champions League, or maybe he could even partner Ollie Watkins?

I guess we will find out very soon.

Unai Emery, Aston Villa boss, speaking on Tuesday:

We have the possibility to get one step ahead in this competition, to be contenders for the top eight. This is really an amazing objective that we can achieve.

We are aware about the possibility to get the fourth victory, 12 points and the expectation for the next round to be in the top eight, maybe it [would take] 16, 17 points. If we win, clearly we can be contenders to be in the top eight.

They will be there, the best teams in Europe, they will be there. But there will be some surprises – if we get there, we are a surprise because we were not contenders or favourites to be in the top eight, maybe [to reach] the next round but not to be in the top eight.

Some favourites are going to be out but with the possibility to play the [playoff] round against the teams finishing in the top eight.

It's not often Aston Villa have received criticism in the past two seasons, and it's for good reason because they have been brilliant.

The same can be said about the start of this campaign, both in the Premier League and the Champions League, Villa were on fire.

However, the same can't be said regarding their recent performances.

Unai Emery's side are without a win in their last three games, losing the past two of those.

A humbling defeat at the hands of Tottenham on Sunday showed that Villa still have a way to go if they want to be one of the best.

Their last batch of three points came in this very competition with a win against Bologna two weeks ago.

Emery will be desperate for his side to get back on track with a win tonight too and take one step closer to qualification for the knockout stages.

It's time for Villa to prove it was just a blip.

Are we all ready to go again?

I know the majority of you are only just recovering from what was a bonkers night of Champions League football yesterday.

But it's time for us to dust ourselves off and go again.

Aston Villa travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge in tonight's opening match as they look to reclaim top spot.

The Villans are yet to drop a point in the competition, or even concede a goal, and they will be looking to continue that run this evening.

But based on their recent form, it will be no easy task for Unai Emery's men.

No game is easy in Europe, though, is it?

So, I think it's about time that we get this show on the road.