Aston Villa secured their first win of the season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League, giving manager Unai Emery's rebuilt squad a strong foundation. James Maddison's opener — wait, correction — John McGinn's strike made him the club's all-time record European goalscorer with 12 goals. Buendia and Jackson added to the tally, with Jackson scoring his first Villa goal following his record £65m move from Chelsea. Despite a late penalty from Nicolo Tresoldi after Aaron Wan-Bissaka's handball, Villa rode out the pressure to earn all three points.

The win was particularly significant as it marked Villa's resilience, echoing their strong finish last season after a slow start. Emery has integrated 10 new players this summer, and Tuesday's performance showed the team's ability to combine quality with grit. McGinn emphasized the importance of the young players stepping up, noting it was a big test for the newcomers.

Villa now face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League before matches against Coventry and Tottenham. The victory provides momentum heading into the international break, with Emery praising his team's determination and the older players guiding the squad through the rebuild.