Captain McGinn takes Villans to maiden triumph of the season
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 25.09.25. | 23:55
Aston Villa's skipper netted in the first half for the victory of Unai Emery's team against Bologna
It's not style that counts, but points. And that's what Aston Villa have probably had in their mind as they managed to beat Bologna at Villa Park on Thursday night (1-0) to kick off their UEFA Europa League campaign.
Unai Emery's side didn't shine against the very decent and solid Serie A lot, but still registered a win thanks to John McGinn's early winner.
4 - Since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, no player has scored more goals from outside the box in major European competitions than John McGinn (four). Range. pic.twitter.com/1NenqXp6uR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 25, 2025
The Villan's captain found the back of the net ten minutes into the game as Bologna couldn't clear from the corner. McGinn took a touch about 22 yards out, letting it bounce and before drilling an excellent shot into the bottom corner.
Instead of building on that early lead, the hosts couldn't double it, although they had the best opportunity possible - a penalty.
Ollie Watkins was taken down in the box around the 66th minute, and the forward himself stepped up to take it. Alas, his goal-scoring drought continued as Bologna's keeper Lukasz Skorupski denied it with his leg.
The Italians almost levelled the score on the other end as Santiago Castro headed the ball off the crossbar from seven yards out.
Jadon Sancho had a chance to wrap this game up, and score his first goal for Villa, but it stayed 1-0, which is Villa's first win of the season.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1
Wednesday
Midtjylland - Sturm 2-0 (1-0)
/Christensen 8(og), Diao 88/
PAOK - Maccabi T.A. 0-0
Betis - Nottingham Forest 2-2 (1-2)
/Bakambu 15, Antony 85 - Jesus 18, 23/
Braga - Feyenoord 1-0 (0-0)
/Navarro 79/
Crvena Zvezda - Celtic 1-1 (0-0)
/Arnatuovic 65 - Iheanacho 55/
Dinamo Zagreb - Fenerbahce 3-1 (1-1)
/Beljo 21, 50, Bakrar 90+5 - Szymanski 25/
Freiburg - Basel 2-1 (1-0)
/Ostergahe 31, Eggstein 57 - Otele 84/
Malmo - Ludogorets 1-2 (1-2)
/Johnsen 78 - Stanic 8, Bile 23/
Nice - Roma 1-2 (0-0)
/Moffi 77 pen - Ndicka 52, Mancini 55/
Thursday
Go Ahead Eagles - FCSB 0-1 (0-0)
/Miculescu 13/
Lille - Brann 2-1 (0-0)
/Igamane 54, Giroud 80 - Magnusson 59/
Aston Villa - Bologna 1-0 (1-0)
/McGinn 13/
Ferencvaros - Plzen 1-1 (0-1)
/Pesic 90+4 - Durosinmi 16/
Rangers - Genk 0-1 (0-0)
/Oh 55/
Salzburg - Porto 0-1 (0-0)
/Gomes 90+3/
Stuttgart - Celta 2-1 (0-0)
/Bouanani 51, El Khannouss 68 - Iglesias 86/
Utrecht - Olympique Lyon 0-1 (0-0)
/Tessmann 75/
Young Boys - Panathinaikos 1-4 (1-3)
/Janko 25 - Swidersky 10, Zaroury 13, 19, 68/
