In the seconds after John McGinn gave Aston Villa the lead, the scoreboards in opposite corners malfunctioned, flickering and displaying a 3-0 scoreline over Bologna courtesy of a hat-trick in double-quick time from their captain. For a moment it was pure fantasy but Unai Emery’s side really are top of the reformed Champions League, the only team with a 100% record so far having played three matches. McGinn inadvertently scored the first directly from a free-kick before Jhon Durán, handed a rare start, added a second with his seventh goal of the season. Everybody of a Villa persuasion was on cloud nine, then? Not quite. Durán’s fine, hooked finish proved his final touch of the game and after being replaced by Ollie Watkins he thudded a padded seat in the home dugout and then booted the back of another chair. Amadou Onana, who was withdrawn at half-time, attempted to soothe Duran’s anger, as did a member of Emery’s staff. A few minutes later the striker headed down the tunnel. It was the only obviously sour note for Villa on a night when Boubacar Kamara returned to action for the first time since sustaining a serious knee injury in February. Sam Beukema rattled the woodwork late on for Bologna but ­Villa’s victory was never in doubt after McGinn opened the scoring. Topping a historic victory against Bayern Munich was always going to be an impossible task but nevertheless the pre-match bells and whistles spoke to this being another special occasion. There was a round of fizzing pyrotechnics, fireworks and a giant tifo banner featuring three roaring lions. The cameraphones of supporters – both home and away – were out in force. As Durán lined up, eyes closed with the Champions League anthem emanating from the speakers, presumably his mind went to the time he, as a 16-year-old in Medellín, walked out on to a street for a kickabout with his friends to the same theme tune. For Durán, this moment had been a long time coming, this only his second start of the season after five goals as a substitute, including a superb off-the-cuff winner against Bayern which will live long in the memory of Villa supporters. Durán’s other start this campaign came against Wycombe, in which he also scored, from the penalty spot. If it was a big night for Durán then the same went for Tyrone Mings, the former Villa captain who was back in a match-day squad for the first time since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury at St James’ Park on the opening day of last season. Lucas Digne, one of four Villa players to drop out of the starting lineup from the team that won at Fulham at the weekend, joined in the communal applause as Mings warmed up in front of the North Stand. Ian Maatsen replaced Digne at left-back, with Ezri Konsa and McGinn also promoted from the bench. McGinn was among those who attempted to crack Villa’s stubborn Serie A opponents, his side-footed effort repelled. For Villa, the best of the first-half action came during two minutes of stoppage time, Morgan Rogers sending a low drive narrowly wide. Durán was desperate to add to his tally, having an early speculative effort blocked before a header from a corner was pushed away by the Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, friends with Matty Cash from their days together playing for Poland. Emiliano Martínez saved an early effort from Thijs Dallinga, prompting the Villa goalkeeper to ask questions of his defence. Later Giovanni Fabbian scuffed a shot bobbling across goal after being played onside by Maatsen, Villa’s high line not quite high enough. Earlier, the winger Riccardo Orsolini skittled a shot at goal but was flagged offside. At the interval Emery introduced Ross Barkley in place of Onana, who took a knock in the first half. Both teams had chances within a few minutes of the restart, Leon Bailey and Stefan Posch both striking wide. When one Bologna full-back Charalampos Lykogiannis cut the ball back for another, Villa Park held their breath in unison but Posch powered his first-time shot wide from the edge of the 18-yard box. Villa, however, were able to relax when McGinn’s 55th-minute free-kick, awarded after Remo Freuler fouled Konsa, eluded everybody and dropped inside the far post. Nine minutes later this contest was as good as over when Durán added a second. Durán was too strong for Jhon Lucumí at the front post and hooked Rogers’s dinked cross into the far corner with his left foot. Emery applauded overhead but proceeded to go ahead with his triple substitution. Samuel Iling-Junior, on loan at Bologna from Villa, entered late on to cheers from all corners of the ground. Back on the biggest stage, how Villa are enjoying themselves.