Aston Villa finally have something to smile about.
Unai Emery’s side claimed their first victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Club Brugge in Belgium, although the result was far more dramatic than the scoreline might suggest.
John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía and Nicolas Jackson were on target as Villa made a winning return to the Champions League. For long periods, the visitors looked comfortable, but a second-half fightback from Brugge ensured Emery’s team had to dig deep before securing all three points.
It was only Villa’s second victory since that memorable night in Istanbul when McGinn lifted the Europa League trophy in May. Much has changed since then, with a major squad rebuild leaving Emery with the difficult task of integrating a host of new faces.
That made this victory particularly important.
McGinn leads the way
Villa looked the stronger team from the opening whistle and deservedly went into half-time with a commanding advantage.
McGinn opened the scoring and, in doing so, wrote his name into Villa’s European history. His goal took him to 12 European goals for the club, making him their all-time leading scorer in continental competition.
Buendía then added a second before Jackson completed an impressive first half for the visitors.
Brugge struggled to cope with Villa’s intensity and Hemmings, making history as the club’s first teenage starter in the Champions League or European Cup for 43 years, also came close to getting on the scoresheet.
At that stage, it appeared Villa were cruising toward a comfortable victory.
But football rarely follows the script.
Brugge make Villa sweat
The game changed dramatically after the break.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was penalised for a clear handball inside the box, allowing Nicolo Tresoldi to pull one back from the penalty spot.
Suddenly, Villa were under pressure.
Tresoldi later struck the post as Brugge pushed forward in search of another goal, leaving Emery’s players facing an uncomfortable final half-hour.
For Villa, however, surviving that spell could prove just as valuable as the three goals they scored.
This was a new-look team learning how to win together, and they were forced to show resilience rather than simply relying on their attacking quality.
McGinn summed it up perfectly after the match.
“It was so important to show a real gritty performance and get a victory at a very, very tough place to play.”
That resilience could become a defining feature of Villa’s season.
Jackson starts writing his own story
One of the biggest talking points was Jackson’s first goal for Villa.
The Senegal international joined from Chelsea in a club-record £65 million deal after spending last season on loan at Bayern Munich. His arrival was designed to fill the huge void left by Ollie Watkins, and the pressure on the striker will be significant.
Jackson is no stranger to Emery, having previously worked with the manager at Villarreal, and his understanding of the coach’s methods could help him settle quickly.
This was only his third start for Villa, but scoring his first goal should provide a timely confidence boost.
Jackson insists the squad is focused on what lies ahead rather than dwelling on the players who have left.
“We don’t care about the past, we just focus on the next one,” he said.
That attitude perfectly reflects the mood around Villa.
A new Villa taking shape
The rebuild at Villa Park is significant.
Emery is attempting to integrate around 10 new players into a team that previously had a settled core. That process was always going to take time, particularly after a difficult opening to the Premier League campaign.
Villa had managed just one shot on target across their opening three league games, making their attacking display in Belgium an encouraging sign.
Emery has repeatedly called for patience, and the victory over Brugge offered evidence that his players are beginning to respond.
“We must work hard – it is the only way,” Emery said after the game. “We did one very important step forward, being resilient when we were struggling.”
That may ultimately be the most important takeaway from the night.
Villa were not perfect. They were not dominant for the entire game. But when Brugge turned up the pressure, they found a way to survive.
Can Villa build momentum?
There are encouraging memories from last season.
Villa’s 1-0 victory over Bologna was hardly spectacular, but it proved to be the beginning of something special. Emery’s side subsequently embarked on an extraordinary run of 17 wins in 20 matches, building the momentum that helped them return to the Champions League and eventually lift the Europa League.
It would be unrealistic to expect history to repeat itself immediately.
This is a different Villa.
The squad has changed, the dynamics have changed and Emery is still building his team. But three points in Belgium provide the kind of foundation every rebuilding side needs.
With Fenerbahce and Viking still to come at home in October, Villa’s route toward the next stage of the Champions League is beginning to take shape.
The immediate challenge is domestic, however.
Villa host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday before travelling to Coventry in the Carabao Cup and then facing Tottenham.
After a frustrating start to the campaign, Emery and his players now have something they desperately needed: momentum.
The new Villa may not be fully formed yet, but in Belgium, they finally turned the page.
