Villa 2 Bologna 0: McGinn and Duran fire Emery’s side to top of Champions League table with perfect three out of three

VILLA’S longest serving player John McGinn was the oldest swinger in town as his wicked free-kick broke Bologna.

The Scot’s perfectly flighted delivery was missed by Jhon Duran and Ross Barkley.

But much more importantly it was missed by the Bologna defence, including goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

After helping Villa back to the Premier League, McGinn has done the hard rounds and deserved his glorious moment. 

Duran, trusted ahead of Ollie Watkins, repaid Unai Emery’s faith in him, adding a second to put Villa in easy street.

Maximum points after three games and not a goal conceded yet.

Euro expert Emery is making this look all so easy!

You can never accuse the Spaniard of not having huge Cajones.

He stepped down England ace – and weekend scorer against Fulham – Watkins.

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And replaced him with Colombian kid striker Duran who was handed only his second start of the season – one month after his previous one in the Carabao Cup against Wycombe! 

It was Emery’s reward for Duran’s stunning winner from the bench against Bayern Munich last time out in Europe.

The burning question was could big Jhon do it from the start?

There was a return too for Villa skipper McGinn, who made his first start since he damaged his hamstring against Wolves last month.

However, it would have been interesting to discover the Scot’s thoughts about being welcomed by a huge Tifo of three snarling lions draped from the Holte End.

Any thoughts that Villa would be forced to break down a blanket Bologna defence were swiftly dispelled because the visitors were first to go for goal within two minutes.

Skipper Sam Beukema caught out Ezri Konsa with a raking pass out of defence to release winger Dan Ndoye.

The Swiss international pulled the ball back to Kacper Urbanski but the Pole sliced his shot weakly wide from the edge of the box.

Vincenzo Italiano’s men have only managed one point from their opening two games and probably felt they needed to leave here with three points to avoid becoming also-rans.

And no-one at Villa Park was complaining as the play raged from end to end like a basketball match.

Villa forced a string of early corners and free-kicks as Youri Tielemans pinned Bologna back around their own penalty area.

Pau Torres was crowded out at the near post and Skorupski frantically fisted clear under pressure from Duran. 

But Bologna were menacing on the break and Martinez beat out a fierce effort from Dallinga after more brilliant build up work from Ndoye.

He then had to get down low to smother a shot on the run from Riccardo Orsolini, who was then snuffed out at the backpost by Ian Maatsen.

The Italian winger was then booked for a foul on Maatsen as this pair fought and scratched for every inch of turf.

McGinn tested Skorupski with a low shot which the Pole in goal, palmed away at full stretch before Dallinga snatched at a chance, firing straight at Martinez.

It was high-octane stuff and Villa ended the first half by carving out two great chances for Morgan Rogers.

However his first effort flew a fraction wide from 20 yards, before Skorupski defied him with an outstrtched right boot, when the Villa man might have been better off dinking the keeper.

Emery sent on Barkley for Amadou Onana at the break while Orsolini made way for Jens Odgaard for Bologna.

But the pace increased if anything!

Lykogiannis was booked for leaving one on Leon Bailey before Konsa nodded a Maatsen cross down for Bailey who swept his shot agonisingly wide.

But Bologna hit back and Stefan Posch added even more spice with a sizzler which flew just wide.

Tensions were running high and Remo Freuler was booked for a foul on Konsa, which sent Bologna berserk as they claimed Konsa had fouled Giovanni Fabbian seconds earlier.

Even Emery was getting heated as he fell out with Vincenzo Italiano before making up with a sporting handshake.

But Italiano was cursing the Spaniard again seconds later as Villa hit his side with a quickfire double.

From the resultant free-kick McGinn swept in a curling delivery, Barkley and Duran failed to connect and the ball curled beyond Skorupski and in at the far post.

Cue a Holte End frenzy as McGinn was swamped by his celebrating team-mates.

VAR checked for a potential handball against Barkley but nothing amiss was found.

Villa sniffed blood and killed Bologna off nine minutes later.

Rogers delivered a delicious cross and Duran thrust out a leg to beat his Columbian international teammate Jhon Lucumi to divert the ball beyond Skorupski. 

It was the 20-year-old’s final touch of the game before he was replaced by Watkins in a triple substitution.

For reasons best known to him he threw his toys out of the pram, punching his seat after he was replaced.

But Villa will live with the tantrums because the kid is a star!