Marco Asensio’s goal against Club Brugge wasn’t just another strike. With that finish, the Spaniard reached 10 goals off the bench in the Champions League, making him the most prolific substitute in the tournament’s history and the first to hit double digits in this category.

Throughout his career, spanning Real Madrid, PSG (where he hasn’t scored in the UCL), and Aston Villa, Asensio has built a reputation as a game-changer. He now surpasses names like Thomas Müller, Karim Benzema, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who all have seven goals as substitutes in the competition.

Clutch Goals from the Bench

Asensio doesn’t just score—he delivers in crucial moments. Some of his most iconic substitute goals include:

• 4-2 vs Bayern (2016-17 quarter-finals)
• 1-4 vs Juventus (2016-17 final)

• 1-2 vs Bayern (2017-18 semi-finals)
• 2-0 vs Chelsea (2022-23 quarter-finals)

His latest strike came in Aston Villa’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge, netting an 88th-minute penalty. Despite Simon Mignolet’s dive, the sheer power of the shot made it unstoppable.

Aston Villa: A Signing Full of Promise

Asensio arrived in Birmingham late in the winter transfer window and has already racked up five goals for Villa:

• Two against Chelsea
• Two against Cardiff City
• One against Club Brugge

Since his arrival, Unai Emery’s side has stepped up, securing four wins, two draws, and just one loss (against Crystal Palace, in a match where Asensio played the fewest minutes). The Monchi & Emery duo brought him in alongside Marcus Rashford to strengthen the squad after selling Jhon Durán to Saudi Arabia for a whopping €90 million. Now, the big question is how they’ll balance his role alongside Rashford and Morgan Rogers, the latter boasting 19 goal involvements this season.