Aston Villa paid the perfect tribute to former striker Gary Shaw as they enjoyed a dream Champions League debut with a 3-0 win at Young Boys.
Villa’s return to the top table of European football was overshadowed by Monday’s death of Shaw, a golden boy of the club’s past success at this level when he helped them to European Cup glory in 1982.
Boss Unai Emery told his current crop before the game to win it for Shaw and they listened as they began life in the modernised competition in style thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana.
It was the ideal start to the revamped 32-team league format, where the top 24 sides have a chance to progress, but perhaps their real introduction to the Champions League will come when they host Bayern Munich in a fortnight.
WHAT A START TO OUR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAMPAIGN
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