Champions League scoring started early by Villa’s McGinn after record rate of goals last season
BRUGES, Belgium (AP) — Aston Villa captain John McGinn netted the opening goal of the Champions League season in the 11th minute during a match against Club Brugge on Tuesday. This marked the start of a record-breaking goals-per-game rate that had been set last season, with an impressive average of 3.47 goals per game. In the early stages of the fixture, McGinn scored with a curling left-footed shot that found the post, propelling Villa to a 2-1 lead.
It wasn't long before Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen equalized with a low left-footed shot in the 19th minute. Villa's Emi Buendia then added another goal to extend the lead in the closing minutes. The match was one of 189 scheduled games in the competition, featuring Aston Villa hosting Club Brugge and AEK Athens hosting LASK as the opening fixtures.
Last season saw a total of 655 goals scored, a record that had not been surpassed since the 1960s in the older European Cup knockout format.
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