UCL: Villa end goal drought, beat Brugge 3-2 in Champions League opener

Aston Villa finally found the net after three frustrating weeks, beating Club Brugge 3-2 in torrential rain at Bruges’ Jan Breydel Stadium to open their Champions League campaign with a win.

John McGinn scored Villa’s first goal of the season in the 11th minute, curling a finish past Yann Sommer after Pau Torres created the opening with a run and pass. Hugo Vetlesen equalised seven minutes later, but Emiliano Buendia restored Villa’s lead before Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal for the club just before halftime.

Nicolo Tresoldi converted a penalty after the interval to set up a tense finish, but Villa held on. The result ended their run without a goal in the Premier League, where they had taken only one shot on target across their first three matches.

The win offered relief after a turbulent close season. Villa won the Europa League last season, ending a 30-year trophy drought, but Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa all left during a summer of upheaval. The rebuild, driven by the need to comply with football’s financial regulations, now represents a major test for manager Unai Emery.

Villa next turn their attention to Nottingham Forest in search of their first top-flight victory, before returning to Champions League action against Fenerbahce in October.