EUROPE offers Unai Emery an escape from a miserable start as Aston Villa open their Champions League campaign in Belgium. They arrive without a Premier League goal in three games and off the back of a goalless draw at Hull.
Club Brugge have won four of their five Belgian Pro League games this season, scoring nine and conceding only two, and sit second in the table. Ivan Leko‘s side beat Lommel 1-0 at the weekend through a Timothy Adams own goal and reached last season’s Champions League knockout play-offs after topping their group.
Christos Tzolis left for Arsenal this summer, but Hans Vanaken remains captain and has scored against Villa before.
Aston Villa have lost 4-0 at Brighton and 1-0 at home to Arsenal either side of Saturday’s stalemate at Hull, where Nicolas Jackson headed an early chance wide on his full debut.
Emery has rebuilt heavily, with Jackson arriving from Chelsea to replace Ollie Watkins and Johan Manzambi signed from Villarreal’s academy pipeline, but the new-look side has yet to click.
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The betting angle: Can Villa’s new faces find a goal in Bruges?
Brugge are patient and aggressive on the counter, with Carlos Forbs and Hugo Vetlesen breaking quickly off Vanaken’s control in midfield. Joel Ordonez is their only injury absence, so Leko picks from a near-full squad, and a Jan Breydel crowd unbeaten domestically at home adds to the test.
Villa’s problem is conversion rather than chances. They had less than 1 xG in defeats to Brighton and Arsenal and managed just one shot on target across those two games, though 74% possession at Hull suggests the football is coming, just not the end product. Jackson needs service, and Emiliano Buendia and John McGinn both passed up presentable openings on Saturday.
Both sides carry goals threat but have looked short of a cutting edge lately, and a team low on confidence travelling to a side unbeaten in five is a difficult combination to back with conviction.
Expect Brugge’s sharper edge in the final third to tell in a low-scoring game that exposes Villa’s continuing struggle in front of goal.
Our tip: Club Brugge to Win and Under 2.5 Goals
The longshot: Club Brugge to win 2-0 & Hans Vanaken to score anytime
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📺 How to watch Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
Date: Tuesday, 8th September, 2026
Kick-off: 5:45pm BST
Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
TV Channel: TNT Sports
Highlights: TNT Sports app, YouTube
Read more of our 2026/27 football season tips and predictions
About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Jattvibe in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Jattvibe, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Jattvibe.
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