Aston Villa launched their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 3-2 victory over Club Brugge in Belgium, ending a goal drought that had overshadowed the start of their Premier League season.

Villa had gone scoreless across their first three Premier League fixtures, managing only one shot on target during that barren run. The visit to Bruges changed everything — goals from John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia, and Nicolas Jackson provided the platform for a memorable European debut.

McGinn sets the tone

The opening goal came from a move of genuine quality. Pau Torres drove forward from defence and picked out McGinn, who side-footed the ball crisply into the bottom left corner with a first-time finish that carried all the hallmarks of his game.

Villa were relentless in that first half, generating 14 efforts as they tore into their Belgian hosts. Club Brugge refused to sit back, however, and Hugo Vetlesen pulled the home side level with a low, well-struck effort into the corner.

The equaliser lasted barely three minutes. Joao Gomes created the opening and Buendia was on hand to tap in from close range, restoring Villa's lead before the half-hour had passed.

Jackson marks his arrival

Villa's third goal was a statement from their club-record signing. Jackson, who joined for £65 million, latched onto a long ball forward from Torres, outpaced goalkeeper Yann Sommer to reach it first, and rolled the ball into an empty net for his first goal since arriving at the club.

Club Brugge reduced the deficit just after the hour mark when Nicolo Tresoldi converted a penalty — awarded after a VAR review confirmed a handball by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The hosts pressed hard in search of an equaliser, but Villa held firm to claim all three points in their opening Champions League outing.