The centre-back inexplicably picked up a short goal-kick by Emiliano Martinez without knowing referee Tobias Stieler had restarted the game. Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converted the resulting 52nd-minute penalty to earn victory for the Belgian champions and end Villa’s three-game winning start to life in the Champions League. It was a moment of madness by Mings, making his first start in the competition, but he may feel hard done by as Arsenal defender Gabriel was spared in the exact same circumstances against Bayern Munich in last season’s quarter-final.
On that occasion Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg did not penalise, saying it was a “kid’s mistake” and not in the spirit of the game to award a penalty. Stieler did not have the same outlook and Mings was punished. The incident will divert attention from what was a below-par performance by Unai Emery’s men, who have now lost their last three games in all competitions.
They were aiming to create Champions League history by becoming the first team to win their first four games in the competition without conceding a goal. But they mustered just one shot on target with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran barely getting a sniff. Despite the blip, they remain in strong position to earn direct qualification for the last 16 at the halfway stage of the new league phase.
Their best moment came in the 21st minute as they fashioned their best moment of the match. John McGinn fed Watkins and the England international cut inside but dr.
