Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Aston Villa breathed life into their season as they edged to a narrow Champions League victory over Club Brugge.

First-half goals from John McGinn, Emi Buendia and Nicolas Jackson earned the Premier League side a battling victory in Belgium.

Hugo Vetlesen had briefly hauled the hosts level after McGinn's opener, but Buendia and Jackson - with his first goal for the club - put Villa in charge.

Nicolo Tresoldi's 61st-minute penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka's handball left the visitors facing a nervy last 29 minutes during which Tresoldi hit the post.

But Villa held on for a result they will hope to use as a platform to build from after three successive league matches without scoring, as manager Unai Emery looks to integrate 10 new signings.

The Europa League winners have lost six of the starting XI from their triumphant night in Turkey, including £117m Morgan Rogers after his exit to Chelsea.

Emery has called for patience, knowing it will take time to rebuild.

And it was skipper McGinn - their longest-serving player - who energised their season, becoming Villa's record European scorer in the process with his 12th goal.

How the Villa players rated

Zion Suzuki: One solid early save denied Jan Virgili but he could not stop Hugo Vetlesen's leveller and was sent the wrong way by Nicolo Tresoldi for Brugge's penalty. 6

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: A full debut for the right-back - in place of the injured Matty Cash. He could not stop the cross for Brugge's equaliser and conceded the second-half penalty. 5

Pau Torres: His run through the absent Brugge midfield set up John McGinn's opener, and he helped Villa ride out the pressure as the hosts chased a leveller. 7

Victor Lindelof: The defender has rarely let Villa down since his arrival on a free last summer, and was solid once again in Belgium. 7

Ian Maatsen: Booked early for dissent after failing to win a throw-in so had to walk a tightrope but did that well and held firm as Brugge pushed. 6

Joao Gomes: Returned for the first time since his opening-day red card and set up Emi Buendia to score. 6

Boubacar Kamara: The midfielder made more passes than any other Villa player and tried to keep things ticking in the centre while battling second-half Brugge pressure. 7

John McGinn: The captain scored Villa's first goal of the season with a fine strike and forced Yann Sommer into a save. He is now the club's highest scorer in Europe with 12. 8

Emi Buendia: Shot wide early but netted his first since scoring in the Europa League final in May and remains crucial to the Villa rebuild. 7

George Hemmings: The first teenager to start for Villa in Europe's elite competition since 1983 should have marked the occasion with an early goal. 6

Nicolas Jackson: The striker helped start the move for Buendia's goal and scored his first Villa goal after benefiting from Sommer's rush of blood. 7

Subs:

Lamare Bogarde (on 68, Wan-Bissaka) 6

Alysson (on 68, Buendia) 6

Ross Barkley (on 68, Kamara) 6

Tammy Abraham (on 81, Jackson) 6

Subs not used: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Ruggeri, Garnacho, Mbaye

Player of the match

J. McGinn
8.64
7 N. Tresoldi
6.04
11 Jan Virgili
5.77
8 F. Potts
5.76
65 J. Seys
5.72
9 Carlos Forbs
5.70
20 H. Vanaken
5.65
44 B. Mechele
5.59
10 H. Vetlesen
5.57
3 Lee Han-Beom
5.38
1 Y. Sommer
5.33
64 K. Sabbe
5.24
41 H. Siquet
5.20
80 F. Lemaréchal
5.12
16 C. Tsawa
5.00
17 R. Vermant
4.98
67 M. Diakhon
4.95
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