Sports
McGinn, Buendia and Jackson Fire Aston Villa to First Win of the Season in Brugge
Aston Villa secured their first victory of the season with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League, a result that offered Unai Emery's rebuilding side a much-needed boost. Goals from John McGinn, Emi Buendia and new signing Nicolas Jackson gave Villa control before a nervous finish saw Brugge fight back through a penalty from Nicolo Tresoldi. The victory was only Villa's second since their Europa League triumph in Istanbul last May, where McGinn lifted the trophy. Since then, the squad has undergone major changes, with ten new players integrated into the team, and results in the Premier League have been difficult, making the win in Belgium especially significant. McGinn's opening goal made him Villa's all-time leading European goalscorer with 12 strikes. Buendia added a second before halftime, and Jackson, in his third appearance for the club, scored his first goal for Villa after benefiting from a mistake by Brugge goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Teenager George Hemmings, becoming Villa's first teenage Champions League starter in 43 years, also had chances to add to the tally during a dominant first-half performance in which Villa registered 14 shots. However, Brugge grew into the game in the second half. Aaron Wan-Bissaka's handball led to a penalty, converted by Tresoldi, who later hit the post as Brugge pushed for an equalizer during a tense final half-hour. Villa held on to claim the win, which Emery described as an important step in the team's development. "We are improving after Brighton and after Hull City," Emery said. "We must work hard - it is the only way. This is the process that we must try to set. We did one very important step forward, being resilient when we were struggling." McGinn echoed the sentiment, highlighting the challenge for the club's new faces. "It's a new Villa and it was a big test for the new players to dig in," he said. "It was Joao Gomes and George Hemmings' first Champions League game... Club Brugge were pushing and pushing and pushing and we had to stand strong. We managed to do that." Jackson, who joined Villa for a club-record £65m from Chelsea, said he was focused on the future rather than reflecting on past struggles. "We don't care about the past, we just focus on the next one. Like every team, we have our ambitions. We just know it's a long journey, so we take it step by step and try to win every game we play," said the Senegal international, who previously worked under Emery at Villarreal. Villa registered nine shots on target in the match, an improvement after managing just one in their opening three Premier League fixtures. The win follows a goalless draw at Hull and continues Villa's gradual rebuilding process under Emery, who has stressed a step-by-step approach following last season's remarkable run of 17 wins in 20 games that fueled their return to the Champions League and Europa League success. Villa will next host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, before facing Coventry in the Carabao Cup and traveling to Tottenham. With Fenerbahce and Viking set to visit Villa Park in October, the club will look to build on this result as they continue adjusting to a transformed squad heading into the international break.