Champions League

LUIS ENRIQUE could be in for a few sleepless nights as the PSG boss faces up to his worst nightmare.Aston Villa are heading to Paris for a Champions League showdown and Marco Asensio – the man he allowed to leave on loan – is in the form of his life!Marco Asensio celebrates with Marcus Rashford after making it 3-0Credit: PAAsensio cracks the first of his quickfire doubleCredit: GettyBoss Unai Emery’s smile says it all after victoryCredit: GettyThe 29-year-old Spaniard will head back to his old club next month with a point to prove.And he warmed up with a deadly double here to put 10-man Club Brugge to the sword, like a Matador slaying a bull.The three-times Champions League winner has been an absolute steal after joining in the January window.Last night he took this game by the scruff of the neck and delivered his sixth and seventh goals to ease Villa’s nerves – six of which have come in front of an adoring Holte End.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThrow in the fact Unai Emery will also have a grudge to bear against the club who binned him after he delivered a domestic quadruple in 2018, and Enrique might discover beating Liverpool was the easy part!Yet until Asensio came on, with Leon Bailey in a double substitution at half-time Villa looked listless.In truth they did most of the heavy lifting when they won 3-1 in Bruges last week.That left Emery and his side with one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals – his task here was to firmly plant his remaining foot there.Most read in Champions LeagueCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsBut there were a few early stumbles along the way as Villa made a nervous start.Brugge knew they had nothing to lose and dominated the first half.Liverpool boss Arne Slot left with sense of shock after Champions League penalty shoot-out exit against PSG Kyriani Sabbe fired a first-time shot over after Matty Cash gifted him the ball with a sloppy pass.Then skipper Jan Vanaken flashed a flashing header inches wide after he burst in front of Tyrone Mings.When Raphael Onyedika blasted in a shot which Ezri Konsa did well to head clear, the Villa fans started to grumble and Emery called for calm on the touchline.But suddenly the pressure valve was eased as Brugge were reduced to 10-men.Emi Martinez deserves credit for doing what none of his teammates could – pierce Brugge’s defence – with a raking 60-yard delivery which picked out Marcus Rashford on the run.The winger sprinted off like a greyhound chasing a hare and although poor Sabbe did his best to halt him, he could only grapple with Rashford before sending him toppling with a clip of his heels.German ref Daniel Siebert reached for his red card and suddenly Villa’s task looked a whole lot simpler with Brugge reduced to 10 men.Youri Tielemans beat the wall from the resultant free kick but Simon Mignolet got down low to push the ball out.Then Ollie Watkins spotted Mignolet off his line but his audacious attempt from 45 yards lacked the height to clear the keeper.Ian Maatsen rejoices after doubling Villa’s lead on the nightCredit: AFPMaatsen helped put Villa in command as they cruised throughCredit: GettyAnd Villa ended the half looking more likely as Rashford slammed a shot into the side netting.But it was Asensio’s arrival at half-time which made all the difference.He finally broke Brugge with a move he started and finished, five minutes after his arrival.His positive burst saw Morgan Rogers feed John McGinn who played in Bailey.The Jamaican’s clever flicked pass was pounced on by Asensio who took the ball off the bounce and fired beyond Mignolet.He almost added a second when he broke clear onto a Tielemans chip, only to hit the post with Mignolet beaten.And Villa doubled their lead before the hour when Rashford’s sublime touch set up Rogers who cut back for Ian Maatsen to score with a deflection off Brandon Mechele.But Asensio wasn’t finished and he made it 3-0 with his second four minutes later.Rashford played a 1-2 with Rogers and cut back for Asensio to beat Mignolet with a simple finish.READ MORE SUN STORIESNext stop – Paris in springtime.I’ll bet Asensio and Emery can’t wait! More

FANS moaned “WTF is wrong with Chelsea?” after Conor Gallagher scored one of the fastest goals in Champions League history.The former Blues star lined up for Atletico Madrid in their hreatbreaking last-16 penalty defeat against city rivals Real.Conor Gallagher scored for Atletico Madrid against Real after just 27 secondsCredit: ReutersChelsea fans bemoaned the situation after selling Gallagher last summerCredit: AFPDiego Simeone’s men lost the first leg 2-1 and came into Wednesday’s game needing a quick goal.But nobody was expecting Gallagher to get off the mark in lightning fashion as he returned to Atleti’s starting XI.The England star needed just 27 SECONDS to fire home past Thibaut Courtois at the Wanda Metropolitano.Gallagher’s first goal in nine games sent Atletico supporters wild and gave his side an immediate platform to launch a potential comeback.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIndeed, Chelsea fans also sang the ace’s praises as they lamented last summer’s shock exit.Gallagher was flogged by Todd Boehly and Co for just £33million to satisfy PSR demands following a £1.2billlion spending spree.The 25-year-old had previously spent nearly two decades at Stamford Bridge after joining the club as a six-year-old.And replacement Joao Felix — signed from Atletico — has already been loaned out to AC Milan after failing to fill Gallagher’s boots.Most read in Champions LeagueCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsOne fan, who targeted fellow pricey midfield arrival Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, said: “Chelsea actually sold Gallagher just to end up with Dewsbury-Hall. Wtf is wrong with this club?”Another declared: “Unbelievable goal from Gallagher, why did Chelsea sell this guy?”Ex-Chelsea star Conor Gallagher already has his own song at Atletico Madrid as he’s serenaded by packed stadium on debutOne noted: “Chelsea fans in regret.”Another added: “Gallagher to Atletico has been a slam dunk signing, did not see that coming. Apparently neither did Chelsea.”Indeed, one supporter backed Gallagher to receive a call-up for Thomas Tuchel’s first-ever England squad on Friday.And the German boss was even urged to build his side around Gallagher.The fan said: “Build the team around him Thomas.”Unfortunately for Gallagher though, his goal after 27 seconds was still not enough to be crowned the fastest-ever Champions League strike.Indeed, it doesn’t even make the top five, with Roy Makaay’s 2007 strike for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid coming in just 10.12 seconds.Jonas’ 2011 goal for Valencia against Bayer Leverkusen occurred in 10.96 seconds.While Gilberto Silva’s 2002 effort for Arsenal against PSV Eindhoven came in 20.07 seconds.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut Gallagher’s hit does make him the quickest-ever Englishman to net a goal in Europe’s top competition.Unfortunately for the ex-Chelsea man, Atletico still crashed out of Europe as they lost on penalties to Real after a thrilling clash.Fastest Champions League goals10.12 seconds: Roy Makaay (Bayern Munich 2 Real Madrid 1, 2007)2. 10.96 seconds: Jonas (Valencia 3 Bayer Leverkusen 1, 2011)3. 20.07 seconds: Gilberto Silva (PSV 0 Arsenal 4, 2002)4. 20.12 seconds: Alessandro Del Piero (Man Utd 3 Juventus 2, 1997)5. 21.06 seconds: Clarence Seedorf (Schalke 2 AC Milan 2, 2005) More

JAMIE CARRAGHER was forced to leave the CBS Sports studio early – after falling ill.The Liverpool legend departed midway through their Champions League coverage on Wednesday night.Jamie Carragher was in lively action as a pundit earlier in the eveningBut Carragher was a noticeable absentee at half-timeThe pundit had looked his normal self when speaking before the games started.And the previous night he was an animated figure in the stands at Anfield as Liverpool exited the competition on penalties to PSG.But he reportedly felt unwell on Wednesday evening and was absent from the half-time coverage onwards.Presenter Kate Abdo explained to viewers that he’d been allowed to head home early.Carragher is one quarter of a familiar CBS team for European nights.Abdo oversees the ex-England defender, Arsenal icon Thierry Henry and former Manchester City star Micah Richards.And after the first 45 minutes of match action there was a noticeable gap at the table for the rest of the night where Carra usually sits.However, he later went on social media to reassure fans and send a mischievous message to his studio colleagues.Most read in Champions LeagueCarragher reassured viewers later that he was fineAlongside a snap of the trio sitting without him, Carra wrote: “Feeling better now & just checking if the team can cope without me” – followed by a crying-with-laughter emoji.Earlier in the evening CBS had shared a clip of him telling a story of being trolled on a Paris train journey – in which he heard the driver was an Arsenal fan.Jamie Carragher forced to leave CBS Sports studio midway through show after falling illCarragher ended the tale by revealing he got his own back by asking the attendant to remind the driver of the Gunners’ long trophy drought.Meanwhile, it was a particularly massive Champions League night for Aston Villa as they brushed aside Club Brugge to earn a quarter-final tie with PSG. Real Madrid sneaked past Atletico Madrid after a controversial penalty shootout to set up a tie with Arsenal.The Gunners completed a 9-3 aggregate win over PSV with a 2-2 home draw,And Borussia Dortmund KO’d Lille in the night’s early kick-off.Fans spotted Carragher looking miserable as PSG KO’d LiverpoolThe ex-Three Lions star was at Anfield on Tuesday More