Aston Villa kicked off their Champions League campaign with a resounding 3-2 victory over Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium, showcasing a dramatic turnaround from their Premier League struggles.

Despite failing to score in their first three league matches, Unai Emery's squad wasted no time finding the net in Europe. The scoring began with John McGinn, who became Villa’s all-time leading goalscorer in major European competitions, placing a shot into the bottom left corner for his 12th goal in European play. However, the hosts quickly equalized through Hugo Vetlesen.

Villa responded decisively, with Emi Buendia restoring the lead before summer signing Nicolas Jackson netted his first goal for the club, giving Villa a 3-1 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Nicolo Tresoldi converted a penalty for Club Brugge, narrowing the gap, but Aston Villa held firm to secure their first win of the season across all competitions. Notably, Villa registered nine shots on target during this match, a significant improvement from their previous games.

Key moments included:

• McGinn's opening goal, surpassing Ollie Watkins.
• Buendia's quick response after Brugge's equalizer.
• Jackson's goal, assisted by Pau Torres, who had two assists on the night.

Despite a strong push from Brugge, including a penalty awarded via VAR, Villa's defense stood strong, ensuring the victory for Emery's men.