Aston Villa return to the Champions League on Tuesday with an impressive record in the competition under Unai Emery, having won eight of their 12 matches during their previous campaign.
Villa’s first Champions League season under Emery ended at the quarter-final stage in 2024/25, when eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain survived a remarkable second-leg comeback at Villa Park.
Across that run, Villa recorded eight wins, one draw and only three defeats, scoring 23 goals and conceding 12.
Their Aston Villa Champions League record under Unai Emery therefore stands at a 66.7 per cent win rate before the 2026/27 league phase begins.
Emery’s side return to the competition away to Club Brugge on Tuesday, with every date and opponent available in our complete Aston Villa Champions League fixture schedule.
Aston Villa Champions League record under Unai Emery
Villa’s record before the 2026/27 campaign is:
- Matches: 12
- Wins: 8
- Draws: 1
- Defeats: 3
- Goals scored: 23
- Goals conceded: 12
- Win rate: 66.7%
- Best finish: Quarter-finals
The home record is particularly impressive.
Villa are unbeaten in six Champions League matches at Villa Park under Emery, winning five and drawing one.
Their only home points dropped came in a 0-0 draw against Juventus.
The away record stands at three victories and three defeats from six matches.
Every Aston Villa Champions League result under Emery
Villa returned to Europe’s premier competition in September 2024 after finishing fourth in the Premier League.
Their campaign began emphatically in Switzerland.
| Date | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 17 September 2024 | Young Boys vs Aston Villa | 3-0 W |
| 2 October 2024 | Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich | 1-0 W |
| 22 October 2024 | Aston Villa vs Bologna | 2-0 W |
| 6 November 2024 | Club Brugge vs Aston Villa | 0-1 L |
| 27 November 2024 | Aston Villa vs Juventus | 0-0 D |
| 10 December 2024 | RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa | 3-2 W |
| 21 January 2025 | Monaco vs Aston Villa | 0-1 L |
| 29 January 2025 | Aston Villa vs Celtic | 4-2 W |
| 4 March 2025 | Club Brugge vs Aston Villa | 3-1 W |
| 12 March 2025 | Aston Villa vs Club Brugge | 3-0 W |
| 9 April 2025 | PSG vs Aston Villa | 1-3 L |
| 15 April 2025 | Aston Villa vs PSG | 3-2 W |
UEFA’s official review of Villa’s 2024/25 league phase confirms Emery’s side finished eighth with 16 points, winning five of their eight matches and securing direct qualification for the last 16.
That represented an exceptional return to the competition after more than four decades away.
Bayern win set tone for remarkable Villa Park record
The defining result of the league phase came against Bayern Munich.
Jhon Durán’s goal secured a famous 1-0 victory at Villa Park, while Bologna were beaten 2-0 three weeks later.
Villa eventually completed the league phase with a 4-2 victory against Celtic to clinch eighth place.
That meant Emery’s side avoided the additional knockout play-off and progressed directly into the round of 16.
Club Brugge were waiting.
The Belgian side had already beaten Villa 1-0 during the league phase, but the knockout tie produced a completely different outcome.
Villa won 3-1 in Bruges before completing a 3-0 victory at Villa Park, progressing 6-1 on aggregate.
UEFA’s current Club Brugge and Aston Villa head-to-head record consequently gives Villa two victories from their three previous meetings. (uefa.com)
That history makes Tuesday’s return to Belgium particularly interesting.
Our Club Brugge scouting report explains why the Belgian champions should still present a significant challenge.
PSG ended Aston Villa’s Champions League run
Villa’s 2024/25 campaign ultimately ended against the team that would win the competition.
PSG recovered from Morgan Rogers’ opening goal to win the first quarter-final leg 3-1 in Paris. (uefa.com)
The return fixture became one of the most memorable European nights Villa Park has staged under Emery.
PSG moved 2-0 ahead on the night and 5-1 up on aggregate before Villa responded through Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa.
Villa eventually won 3-2, but PSG survived to progress 5-4 on aggregate. (uefa.com)
The French club subsequently went on to win the Champions League.
Villa responded one season later by winning the Europa League and earning another opportunity at Europe’s top table.
Emery has since outlined his ambitions for Aston Villa’s Champions League return, with a heavily rebuilt squad now preparing for another eight-match league phase.
Villa’s 23-man Champions League squad for 2026/27 includes Nicolas Jackson, Ibrahim Mbaye, Johan Manzambi and several other summer additions.
The personnel have changed considerably.
Emery’s European expectations have not.
Tuesday in Bruges provides the first opportunity to extend an already impressive Champions League record.
