Aston Villa secured their first win of the season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday night. John McGinn opened the scoring, netting Villa’s first goal of the campaign, before Emi Buendia restored their lead later in the first half. Nicolas Jackson then extended the advantage to two goals before the break. Though Nicolo Tresoldi reduced the deficit through a penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s handball on the hour mark, Villa held on to earn the win in their opening Champions League fixture.
Jackson, who was widely anticipated by supporters to open Villa’s goals tally this season, is adjusting well to his new surroundings. Replacing the club’s Premier League record scorer is no small task, and while all strikers eventually need goals to settle, Emery has been focusing on refining Jackson’s off-ball movement and link-up play to better suit the team’s style.
Emery has emphasised that, beyond scoring opportunities, the striker’s ability to combine effectively with teammates is key. He noted that Jackson tends to drop deep and relies on runners making forward runs. In training, the manager has encouraged young players such as Manzambi, Garnacho, and Mbaye to make penetrating runs behind the defence. With some still developing, George Hemmings has been the primary player running in behind recently.
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“It’s patience. Keep working and improving. Keep understanding our combination with the players,” Emery explained in his post-match press conference. He praised Buendia and McGinn for taking on more responsibility and adapting well to the team’s demands.
Villa’s strong performance in Belgium marks the second time in 18 months they have won at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Emery’s record in the Champions League with an English club has reached an impressive 69 per cent win rate, the highest among managers with ten or more games.
Despite his team’s progress, Emery expressed frustration at the slow start to the season, particularly while the transfer window remains open. His animated sideline behaviour has been evident in recent matches, including intense instructions to substitutes in the final stages against Arsenal, Hull, and again at Brugge.
The manager explained this approach, saying, “In the dressing room we spoke about players being tired. They were pushing and I tried to keep us how we are. When I asked the players to come on, they were doing set pieces and individual issues, but I needed their impact quickly after.”
Returning from suspension, Joao Gomes impressed alongside Boubacar Kamara in the double pivot, combining defensive discipline with creative forward runs. Gomes’s ability to progress the ball and assist teammates was on full display, notably assisting Buendia’s goal and almost setting up George Hemmings earlier.
Youngster Hemmings, trusted by Emery in the left-sided role, showed maturity and confidence in his Champions League debut. While he missed two chances in the first half, his ability to win fouls and actively seek the ball reflected his growing comfort in the first team.
Overall, Villa’s display showcased promising developments under Emery’s guidance, with improvements in squad structure and tactical execution that bode well for the remainder of the season.