Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa: Emery's team hit ground running on Champions League return

Following the tragic passing of Gary Shaw on Monday, Aston Villa delivered a performance the former striker and his fellow 1982 European Cup winners would have been proud of in Switzerland.

Playing their first match at this level in 42 years, Unai Emery's team took time to adapt to the artificial surface at Stadion Wankdorf but never looked back once Youri Tielemans had put them ahead following a well-worked corner routine.

Jacob Ramsey doubled Villa's lead after some calamitous defending by Young Boys, who were spared further first-half punishment by the video assistant referee's decision to disallow Ollie Watkins' effort for handball.

Jhon Duran was also denied by VAR, who chalked off the Colombian's second-half finish after Amadou Onana had handled the ball in the build-up.

Silvere Ganvoula and Filip Ugrinic forced Emi Martinez into action in the second half, but Villa's lead was never seriously under threat as Emery's team began the Champions League's new-look league phase with a comprehensive win.

Europe's top club competition returns to Villa Park on 2 October, when Villa take on Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1981-82 final.