Aston Villa finally found the lift they needed in Belgium as Unai Emery’s side beat Club Brugge 3-2 to open their Champions League campaign with a valuable victory.
Villa arrived in Bruges under pressure after taking one point and failing to score across their first three Premier League games. That made a bright European start especially important, and John McGinn settled the nerves after 11 minutes.
Pau Torres carried the ball forward before finding the captain, who drove a crisp finish beyond Yann Sommer. Club Brugge replied through Hugo Vetlesen, but Villa quickly regained control when Emi Buendía completed a flowing move involving summer signings Nicolas Jackson and João Gomes.
Jackson then grabbed his first Villa goal before half-time.
Torres sent a long pass over the home defence, the striker reached it ahead of Sommer, who was caught in no man’s land, and calmly rolled into an empty net.
At 3-1, Villa appeared to be cruising. The picture changed after the break when Aaron Wan-Bissaka was penalised for handball and Nicolò Tresoldi converted from the spot.
|
Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match stat |
Club Brugge |
Aston Villa |
|
Possession |
64% |
36% |
|
Total shots |
14 |
21 |
|
Shots on target |
7 |
9 |
|
Expected goals (xG) |
1.46 |
3.00 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
4 |
|
Corners |
4 |
5 |
|
Completed passes |
532 |
281 |
|
Pass accuracy |
88% |
83% |
|
Duels won |
53 |
50 |
|
Goalkeeper saves |
5 |
5 |
|
Fouls committed |
17 |
14 |
Club Brugge pushed hard for an equaliser, with Tresoldi later striking the post, but Villa survived the pressure and left with all three points.
The 3-2 win was not completely comfortable, although the attacking edge shown before the interval was a major step forward after their flat domestic opening.
For Emery, it was the response he needed from his players, and there was another reason for Villa supporters to feel very encouraged.
George Hemmings impresses in Aston Villa win over Club Brugge
George Hemmings was handed his Champions League debut from the start and looked at home on the left of Emery’s attacking three.
The 19-year-old brought energy without the ball and showed confidence whenever possession reached him.
He threatened twice early on, first forcing Sommer into a save after combining with Jackson and then sending an ambitious effort narrowly wide.
Later, he released Buendía during a quick break and flashed a dangerous pass across goal which Alysson couldn’t quite reach.
Sky presenter Joe Thomlinson was particularly impressed by what he saw, urging supporters to get excited by the teenager after what was another composed and assured display.
Hemmings didn’t simply wait for the game to come to him, but instead moved into useful spaces, helped Villa cover ground defensively and was willing to make things happen in the final third.
Naturally a central midfielder, his ability to operate further forward gives Emery another option in a squad facing a demanding domestic and European schedule.
Hemmings joined Villa’s academy from Nottingham Forest in 2024 and helped the club win the FA Youth Cup the following year. His senior opportunities have now grown from brief introductions into starts on major European nights.
This was a serious test, and Hemmings passed it with flying colours.