Champions League scoring started early by Villa's McGinn after record rate of goals last season
Aston Villa's John McGinn celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Club Brugge and Aston Villa in Bruges, Belgium, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Credit: AP/Omar Havana
BRUGES, Belgium — The first goal of the Champions League season was scored by Aston Villa captain John McGinn entering the 11th minute at Club Brugge on Tuesday, as the competition kept up its record rate on opening day.
It was a quick start after last season's edition had the highest goals-per-game rate in the 34-year Champions League era.
That record rate last season of 3.47 goals was more than matched by 21 in six games Tuesday at an average of 3.5.
Villa and Brugge had done their share by halftime in Belgium, when Villa led 3-1 in what would be a 3-2 win for the Europa League title holder.
The first came when McGinn placed a curling left-footed shot beyond Brugge goalkeeper Yann Sommer diving to this right and the ball nestled just inside the post.
Villa scored early after three straight games without a goal to start the Premier League season.
Brugge leveled in the 19th with a sweeping, low left-footed shot by Hugo Vetlesen.
Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Club Brugge and Aston Villa in Bruges, Belgium, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Credit: AP/Omar Havana
Villa regained the lead through Emi Buendia with a close-range finish, and Nicolas Jackson added a third in the 43rd into an empty net. He had reached a long pass ahead of Sommer, who had left his penalty area trying to clear the ball. Nicolo Tresoldi made it 3-2 when he scored a penalty for the home side in the 61st.
There were 655 goals scored in the 189 games of last season’s edition. That rate (3.47) was not reached since the 1960s in the old European Cup knockout format.
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