Aston Villa secured their first win of the season in their Champions League opener at Club Brugge, building a 3-1 lead by half-time before being made to work hard for the result.
Key facts
- Aston Villa led 3-1 after 43 minutes at Club Brugge.
- John McGinn opened the scoring, followed by goals from Emi Buendía and Nicolas Jackson.
- Jackson scored his first goal for Villa.
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka conceded a second-half penalty that brought the contest back into the balance.
- It was Villa's first win of the season.
Aston Villa opened their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought victory at Club Brugge, according to the Guardian, taking a commanding 3-1 lead by half-time before being made to sweat for the result in an entertaining contest.
John McGinn opened the scoring, echoing his role from last season when he struck the only goal as Villa belatedly got their campaign up and running against Bologna the previous September. Goals from Emi Buendía and a first strike for Nicolas Jackson followed, appearing to put Villa out of sight before the interval.
The win marked Villa’s first of the season, coming in the glitziest club competition of them all following their return to the big time.
Club Brugge have become familiar opponents for Villa. The Guardian noted that a freakish Tyrone Mings handball gifted the Belgian hosts a penalty and subsequent victory when the sides met in 2024-25.
This time, Aaron Wan-Bissaka conceded a second-half penalty that plunged the seesawing contest back into the balance, forcing Villa to live dangerously in the closing stages.
Despite the nervy finish, the Guardian reported that Villa could equally have won by a bigger margin.
Why it matters
The result gives Aston Villa a winning start to their Champions League campaign and adds to a recurring history with Club Brugge, who beat Villa when the sides met in the 2024-25 competition.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score at half-time?
Aston Villa led Club Brugge 3-1 after 43 minutes, having built their advantage in the first half.
Who scored for Aston Villa?
John McGinn opened the scoring, followed by goals from Emi Buendía and a first strike for Nicolas Jackson.
Why did the match become tense in the second half?
Aaron Wan-Bissaka conceded a second-half penalty, which brought the seesawing contest back into the balance after Villa's strong first-half showing.