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Aston Villa put their finishing problems behind them as they struck three times in the first half to open their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 win over Club Brugge.

Unai Emery’s team had failed to score in their opening three Premier League matches of the season, but they wasted no time in getting off the mark in Europe, finding the net three times in Bruges.

John McGinn became Villa’s highest goalscorer in major European competitions, moving past Ollie Watkins when he curled his side ahead, before the home team quickly drew level through Hugo Vetlesen’s equaliser.

Aston Villa held on for their first victory in all competitions against Club Brugge.

Villa did not play like a side short of confidence in front of goal and moved ahead again through Emi Buendia, before summer arrival Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal for the club to make it 3-1 by half-time.

Nicolo Tresoldi’s penalty reduced the deficit in the second half and Club Brugge pressed strongly for an equaliser, but the visitors managed to see it out for their first win of the season in all competitions.

Aston Villa had managed only one shot on target across their first three games, but they produced nine at the Jan Breydel Stadium, which will be an encouraging sign for Emery.

The hosts created the first effort on target in the ninth minute when Jan Virgili bent an attempt towards goal, forcing Zion Suzuki into action.

But Villa went straight up the other end and took the lead as Pau Torres drove forward through midfield and slipped the ball to McGinn, who superbly guided his finish into the bottom-left corner for his 12th goal in European competition.

They looked eager for more as well. Joao Gomes exchanged a neat one-two with Jackson and Gomes then poked an effort towards goal, which Yann Sommer had to turn behind.

Sommer then conceded a strange free-kick just outside his own penalty area. He appeared ready to throw the ball out, changed his mind, and then handled it again outside the box, leading to a free-kick that eventually came to nothing.

Club Brugge got themselves level in the 19th minute when Virgili found Vetlesen inside the area and he finished neatly.

It did not take long for the English side to restore their lead, with Gomes and Jackson involved in the move before Gomes broke into the box and squared for Buendia to tap in.

Emi Buendia celebrated after scoring Aston Villa’s second goal.

Villa showed no mercy in attack and went into the break 3-1 up, with Torres claiming his second assist of the evening after his long ball sent Jackson through behind the Brugge defence, and the forward rounded Sommer before passing into an empty net.

Club Brugge had a chance to pull themselves further back into the match after the interval when a cross struck Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s hand inside the box. Referee Sandro Schaerer pointed to the spot after a VAR review and Tresoldi converted the penalty.

Jackson might have added his second of the night, but Sommer denied his first-time effort before Lamare Bogarde’s attempt was cleared off the line by Joaquin Seys.