The away side held a convincing and fully deserved lead at the interval, with McGinn’s opening goal taking his European tally for the club to a record 12.
Buendia also found the net before Jackson scored his first Villa goal, taking advantage of an ill-judged charge from Yann Sommer to put the visitors firmly in control.
Brugge struggled badly, and George Hemmings, Villa’s first teenage starter in the Champions League or European Cup for 43 years, had opportunities to add at least one more goal.
However, the home side created a tense finish for Emery’s team. Nicolo Tresoldi converted a penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka clearly handled the ball, then struck the post during a nervous final half-hour.
Villa’s need to withstand sustained pressure may ultimately prove valuable. Their resilience and determination complemented the quality shown before the break and helped secure their first victory of the season.
Emery and his players hardly required reassurance, though, as the squad has consistently maintained the confidence and ambition needed to overcome difficult challenges.
A similar pattern emerged last season, when an unconvincing 1-0 success against Bologna, also decided by McGinn, provided the platform for Villa to build momentum.
That result launched an exceptional sequence of 17 victories in 20 matches, driving the club back into the Champions League and helping create the momentum behind its Europa League triumph.
Villa’s core has since been reshaped, leaving Emery with the challenge of introducing 10 new signings to his carefully structured system.
Winning in Brugge may not trigger another dominant run, but the three points offer Emery and Villa a solid base on which to establish this new chapter.
McGinn said this is a different Villa side and described the match as an important examination of the newcomers’ ability to remain resilient.
He noted that Joao Gomes and George Hemmings were making their Champions League debuts, adding that playing away in difficult weather was never straightforward. With Club Brugge applying constant pressure, Villa had to remain composed and managed to hold firm.
McGinn added that displaying determination and earning a win at such a challenging venue was especially important.
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