Aston Villa kick off Champions League campaign by winning five-goal thriller

Aston Villa put their goalscoring woes aside as they scored three first-half goals to start their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 victory over Club Brugge.

Unai Emery’s side failed to score in their opening three Premier League matches of the season, but wasted no time in opening their European account, striking three times in Bruges.

John McGinn became Villa’s all-time leading goalscorer in major European competitions, overtaking Ollie Watkins when he curled his side in front before the hosts were soon on level terms through Hugo Vetlesen’s equaliser.

Villa did not look like a team that were struggling in front of goal and they hit the front once again through Emi Buendia before summer signing Nicolas Jackson grabbed his first goal for the club to lead 3-1 at half-time.

Nicolo Tresoldi’s penalty halved deficit in the second period and Club Brugge pushed hard for an equaliser, but the visitors managed to hang on for their first win of the season in all competitions.

Aston Villa only managed one shot on target from first three games, but registered nine at the Jan Breydel Stadiom which will be a welcome sign for Emery.