BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa beat Bologna 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran on Tuesday as they extended their perfect start to their first Champions League campaign in 41 years to three victories.
Unai Emery’s side had a flurry of chances before McGinn got on the scoresheet in the 55th minute, sending a freekick sailing over a sea of heads into the far corner. After a VAR check for a possible handball, the goal stood.
Duran, whose late-game heroics lifted Villa past Bayern Munich three weeks ago, doubled the lead in the 64th when Morgan Rogers lifted a cross towards the box and a lunging Duran held off defender Jhon Lucumi to flick it into the bottom corner.
Villa’s win put them provisionally top of the table in Europe’s elite club competition with nine points. Italian side Bologna have one point after a draw and two losses.