McGinn makes history as Villa finally start scoring in dream UCL start 🙌 | OneFootball

A summer of serious upheaval had left Aston Villa playing catch up in the early weeks of the Premier League season but it's been a totally different story tonight in the Champions League. 

Having picked up just one point from three league games and, perhaps more worryingly, failed to score from a single shot on target, many fans would have been fearing the worst ahead of the visit to Club Brugge. 

Instead, Unai Emery's side have turned on the style and started looking more like the side that stormed their way to Europa League success last season, scoring three times in a stunning first half. 

Their first goal came inside 12 minutes and it typically came from the captain, John McGinn. The Scottish midfielder beautifully curled home with his left foot after a fine drive forwards from Pau Torres. It saw the Villa skipper further etch his name into the club's history books. 

Brugge levelled shortly after but Villa were back in front almost right away. Brilliant work from new signings Nicolas Jackson and João Gomes saw another of the old guard, Buendía, strike home from close range. 

Jackson then got in on the act with his first goal since his club record move from Chelsea, capitalising on a howler from veteran keeper Yan Sommer to tap home. 

45 minutes. Seven shots on target. Three goals. Regardless of all the changes, Villa are on the march again in Europe. 

📸 JOHN THYS - AFP or licensors