After a summer of change for Aston Villa, captain John McGinn continues to deliver.
The midfielder became the club’s all-time leading scorer in UEFA competitions to propel Villa to a 3-2 win at Club Brugge in their opening match of this season’s Champions League.
McGinn scored in the 11th minute, placing a curling left-footed shot beyond Brugge goalkeeper Yann Sommer diving to this right and the ball nestled just inside the post.
It was his 12th career goal in Europe for Villa, passing Ollie Watkins’ mark. Watkins was one of a number of key players to depart Villa Park this summer following last season’s Europa League title success.
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Villa scored early after three straight games without a goal to start the Premier League season.
Belgian champions Brugge leveled in the 19th with a sweeping, low left-footed shot by Hugo Vetlesen.
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Villa regained the lead through Emiliano Buendía with a close-range finish, and Nicolas Jackson added a third in the 43rd into an empty net for his first goal since arriving from Chelsea to replace Watkins. He had reached a long pass ahead of Sommer, who had left his penalty area trying to clear the ball.
Club Brugge ensured a tense finale for the visitors after Nicolo Tresoldi scored a penalty in the 61st minute but Villa held on to claim a valuable three points in the league phase.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
