Aston Villa ended their frustrating goal drought in style on Tuesday, defeating Club Brugge 3-2 in their opening Champions League league-phase fixture.
Unai Emery’s side had endured a difficult start to the new Premier League campaign, failing to score in their first three matches and managing just one shot on target across those games.
However, Villa found their attacking rhythm in Belgium, with John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Nicolas Jackson all finding the net at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
McGinn opened the scoring in the 11th minute after connecting with Pau Torres’ pass before curling a superb finish beyond goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Club Brugge responded seven minutes later through Hugo Vetlesen, who capitalised on hesitant defending to fire into the bottom corner.
Villa regained the advantage almost immediately, with Buendia producing a composed finish after being picked out by Joao Gomes.
The visitors extended their lead shortly before half-time when Jackson held off two defenders, rounded Sommer and calmly finished into an unguarded net to register his first goal for the club.
Club Brugge reduced the deficit in the 61st minute after Aaron Wan-Bissaka handled Joaquin Seys’ cross inside the area.
Nicolo Tresoldi converted the resulting penalty to make it 3-2.
The Belgian side pushed aggressively for an equaliser and came close when Tresoldi’s header was spilled onto the post by Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Tresoldi had another opportunity deep into stoppage time but headed straight at Suzuki as Villa survived the late pressure.
The victory gives Villa their first win of the season and offers Emery an important boost after a turbulent summer in which several key players departed.
Villa, who won the Europa League last season, will now turn their attention to their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest before their next Champions League assignment against Fenerbahce in October.
