In the seconds after John McGinn gave Aston Villa the lead, the scoreboards in opposite corners malfunctioned, showing the score at 3-0 against Bologna thanks to a supersonic hat-trick from their captain. It was pure fantasy for a moment, but Unai Emery’s side are actually at the top of the reformed Champions League and are the only team with a 100 percent record having played three games so far. Nine points, three goals conceded – Real Madrid, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain look at the table with a hint of envy.

McGinn accidentally scored the first goal straight from a free kick before Jhon Durán, making a rare start, scored the second with his seventh goal of the season. Then everyone was on cloud nine? Not quite. Durán’s instinctive, sharp finish to convert Morgan Rogers’ cross was his final touch and, after being replaced by Ollie Watkins, he hit a padded seat in the home bench and then kicked the back of another chair.

Amadou Onana, who was withdrawn at half-time, tried to calm Durán’s anger. A few minutes later the striker was running down the tunnel, but at the final whistle he was all smiles as he picked up another Player of the Match award. Did Emery Durán’s reaction bother you? “No, no,” he said. “I can do anything. Sometimes players react a little, but that’s under my control.”

It was the only apparent negative point for Villa on a night that saw Boubacar Kamara return to action for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in February. Sam Beukema failed late for Bologna but Villa’s victory was never in doubt after McGinn opened the scoring.

According to Opta’s supercomputer, Villa may need just six points from their five remaining games to finish in the top eight and automatically qualify for the knockout stages. “I’m excited about the way we’re approaching this competition,” said the Villa manager. “Of course we had a great start. We are consistent, get points and feel good.”

Topping a historic win over Bayern Munich was always going to be an impossible task, but the pre-match bells and whistles still suggested this was another special occasion. There was a round of hissing pyrotechnics, fireworks and a giant tifo banner featuring three roaring lions.

As Durán lined up with his eyes closed and the Champions League anthem playing over the speakers, his thoughts probably went to the time when, as a 16-year-old, he took to the streets in Medellín to play kickball with his friends to the same theme song . This moment was a long time coming for Durán, only his second start of the season after scoring five goals as a substitute, including a superb spontaneous winner against Bayern that will live long in the memory of Villa fans. Durán’s other start this season came against Wycombe, where he also scored from the penalty spot.

If it was a big night for Durán, then the same was true for Tyrone Mings, the former Villa captain, who was in the matchday squad for the first time since injuring his anterior cruciate ligament at St James’ Park on the opening day last season . Lucas Digne, one of four Villa players dropped from the starting XI of the team that won at Fulham at the weekend, joined in the collective applause as Mings warmed up in front of the North Stand.

Samuel Iling-Junior, on loan at Bologna from Villa, came on late in his first appearance at Villa Park and was cheered from all corners of the pitch. Back on the biggest stage as Villa enjoy themselves.

For Villa, the highlight of the first half came in two minutes of stoppage time when Rogers sent a low shot wide of the goal. Desperate to improve his tally, Durán had an early speculative attempt blocked, then tested Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski from a corner. At the other end, Emiliano Martínez blocked a shot from Thijs Dallinga, prompting the Villa goalkeeper to ask questions of his defense, and later Giovanni Fabbian deflected his shot after being played offside by Ian Maatsen, Villa’s high line wasn’t quite high enough.

Both teams had chances after the restart, Leon Bailey and Stefan Posch missed the goal. However, Villa were able to relax when McGinn’s 55th-minute free-kick, awarded after Remo Freuler fouled the fit-again Ezri Konsa, evaded everyone, including Skorupski, and landed inside the far post.

Nine minutes later that fight was over when Durán scored a second goal. He was too strong for Jhon Lucumí at the front post and fired Rogers’ clever cross into the far corner. Emery applauded overhead but ordered a triple substitution. “Maybe he saw the change so he stepped on the gas to score a goal,” Emery said with a smile. “It was fantastic for us and for him.”