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

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Aston Villa finally ended their goal drought as they kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 win against Club Brugge on Tuesday.

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Unai Emery’s side have made a dismal start in the Premier League after a turbulent close season marred by the departures of many of their Europa League-winning stars.

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They are goalless in the top flight and had mustered just one shot on target in their first three matches.

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But Villa’s opening game of the league phase in Europe’s elite club competition provided a welcome tonic as they won for the first time this term.

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In torrential rain at the Jan Breydel Stadium, John McGinn put Villa ahead in the early stages with his team’s first goal this season.

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Hugo Vetlesen equalised soon afterwards, but Emiliano Buendia restored the visitors’ lead before Nicolas Jackson’s first goal for Villa increased their advantage on the stroke of half-time.

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Nicolo Tresoldi’s penalty after the interval set up a tense finale, but Villa held firm.

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Villa can now turn their focus to securing a first top-flight win against Nottingham Forest this weekend before resuming their Champions League fixtures against Fenerbahce in October.

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Villa won the Europa League last season to end their 30-year trophy drought, but the team that made history by beating Freiburg in Istanbul has been ripped apart in a matter of months.

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Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa were all sold in a summer of upheaval.

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The rebuild, sparked by Villa’s need to stay within football’s financial regulations, is a major test for Emery and this was the first sign that he can find a solution.

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Villa thrashed Brugge in the Champions League last 16 in 2025 and once again they proved too strong for the Belgian club.

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– Villa click at last –

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After three weeks of frustration, Villa scored their first goal of the season in the 11th minute.

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Pau Torres was the catalyst with an incisive run and pass that picked out McGinn, who curled a fine finish past Yann Sommer.

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George Hemmings nearly doubled Villa’s lead moments later, but Sommer was equal to the 19-year-old’s effort.

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Hemmings squandered another chance when he scuffed wide with the goal at his mercy.

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Brugge took advantage of those misses to level in the 18th minute.

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Teed up by Jan Virgili’s dynamic burst, Vetlesen punished Villa’s hesitant defending as he lashed a clinical strike past Zion Suzuki into the bottom corner.

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But Villa were clicking in attack at last and they regained the lead three minutes later.

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It was a move of ruthless efficiency as Joao Gomes picked out Buendia and his unerring strike gave Sommer no chance.

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With both sides pouring forward with abandon, Jackson bagged Villa’s third in the 43rd minute.

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Jackson was much maligned during his disappointing spell at Chelsea, but the £65 million ($88 million) signing showed impressive composure to hold off two Brugge defenders and evade Sommer before slotting into the empty net.

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka gifted Brugge a lifeline in the 61st minute when he handled Joaquin Seys’s cross, conceding a penalty that Tresoldi stroked past Suzuki.

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Villa were under siege as Brugge pushed for an equaliser.

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They narrowly avoided blowing the lead when Tresoldi’s header was fumbled onto the post by Suzuki.

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Tresoldi should have levelled in stoppage time, but the striker’s header was straight at Suzuki as Emery breathed a sigh of relief.

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AFP

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