Aston Villa hold off Club Brugge in Champions League opener
Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal for Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s side ended a three-match scoring drought with a 3-2 win in Belgium.
Aston Villa began their Champions League league-phase campaign with a 3-2 win over Club Brugge, ending a run of three Premier League matches without scoring.
John McGinn opened the scoring before Hugo Vetlesen equalised for the hosts. Emiliano Buendia restored Villa’s lead three minutes later, and Nicolas Jackson added a third before half-time.
Sky Sports reported that Villa produced 21 shots, including nine on target, with 14 attempts coming in the first half. Jackson’s goal was his first since joining the club in a reported club-record £65 million transfer.
Club Brugge reduced the deficit after the interval when Nicolo Tresoldi converted a penalty awarded following a pitchside video review of a handball decision involving Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Villa came under sustained pressure late in the match. Tresoldi struck the woodwork, while a Villa effort was cleared off the line, but Emery’s side held on for victory.
