From shot-shy to shoot on sight: Aston Villa find a way to win on Champions League return

At last. Aston Villa have their first win of the season, and it arrived in the Champions League against Club Brugge. John McGinn, Emi Buendia and Nicolas Jackson were on target in a night that began comfortably, turned edgy and ended in relief. It is only Villa’s second victory since that historic Europa League final in May. The season has not fully caught fire yet, but Unai Emery’s side finally have a spark to work with before the Premier League resumes.

A Champions League return that was more nervous than expected

Aston Villa beat Club Brugge on their Champions League return, but it was far from the comfortable evening many anticipated. The game drifted from control to anxiety before finishing in relief. Villa could have drawn just as easily as they could have won more handsomely, which sums up a side still searching for rhythm after a winless start to the season.

For Emery, the result matters beyond the three points. A manager with an unmatched record in European competition needed to stop the rot early, and a winning return to the Champions League gives his players proof that their big-night habits have not deserted them since lifting the Europa League.

Buendia back on the scoresheet, McGinn and Jackson add the rest

Emi Buendia scored his first goal since netting in the Europa League final in May. The Argentine has often been questioned for his consistency, but he again delivered when it counted. His goal gave breathing space to a team that had struggled badly to create clear chances in the opening weeks of the campaign.

John McGinn, the captain and midfield engine, found the net too, and Nicolas Jackson completed the scoring. The contrast with Villa’s early Premier League outings was stark. A team that had looked shot-shy in front of goal suddenly shot on sight, exactly the change in mindset Emery had been demanding.

What the win means for Villa’s Premier League season

One victory does not fix everything, but it changes the mood at Villa Park. A club that has just won the Europa League cannot afford to carry a winless start for long, and the Brugge result gives the squad a foothold to rebuild confidence heading back into Premier League action.

The wider question is whether this was a one-off jolt or the true starting point of an ambitious season. Villa have the manager and the squad to compete on both fronts, and the next few weeks in the league phase and the Premier League will show whether the spark against Brugge grows into something sustained.

FAQ