Aston Villa vs Bologna Preview: Can Emery’s Side Finish the Job in Europa League Quarter-Final Tie?

Aston Villa return to Villa Park, kicking off at 8pm tomorrow night, with one foot already in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, holding a 3-1 advantage over Bologna after a commanding first-leg display in Italy last week.

Unai Emery’s side were inspired by a brace from Ollie Watkins in the first meeting, giving Villa a healthy cushion as they look to complete the job on home soil and continue their push towards European silverware. The winners of the tie will face either Nottingham Forest or FC Porto in the last four.

Team News

Villa’s preparations have been disrupted by uncertainty in goal, after Emiliano Martínez withdrew just before Sunday’s match. It remains to be seen whether back-up Marco Bizot will retain his place.

Elsewhere, Tyrone Mings is a doubt, while Boubacar Kamara and Jadon Sancho remain sidelined. Ross Barkley is also unavailable due to his omission from Villa’s Europa League squad, a situation that could open the door for either Douglas Luiz or Emiliano Buendía to step into the starting XI.

Watkins and club captain John McGinn lead the way for Villa in this season’s Europa League with three goals apiece, both are also just one strike away from becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer in modern-day European competitions.

Matty Cash, Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers, Victor Lindelöf and McGinn are the several Villa players currently walking a disciplinary tightrope on two bookings, although any cautions will be wiped after the quarter-final stage. If one were to be booked tonight they would be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final should Aston Villa progress.

Bologna, meanwhile, arrive in the Second City needing a minor miracle. Vincenzo Italiano’s side have already lost twice at Villa Park since the start of last season and trail heavily after a first-leg defeat in which they struggled to contain Villa’s attacking quality for long spells.

Bologna’s task is further complicated by key absences. Defender Jhon Lucumí is suspended, while Lukasz Skorupski remains sidelined and either Federico Ravaglia or teenager Massimo Pessina is expected to start in goal. Charalampos Lykogiannis and Thijs Dallinga face late fitness tests, although Martin Vitík is available to return after suspension. Federico Bernardeschi and former Norwicjh City man Jonathan Rowe remain their main attacking threats, while Riccardo Orsolini ended a long scoring drought at the weekend.

Past Meetings

Across three meetings between the sides, Villa have outscored Bologna 6-1, although the Italian side did show greater resistance in last week’s fixture in Bologna. Despite that, history is firmly against them: only one side in Europa League history has overturned a two-goal home first-leg deficit to progress, and that came in Sevilla’s famous comeback against Real Betis in 2014.

Despite a strong recent European away record, winning all five of their last five on the road, Bologna face an uphill battle against a Villa side formidable in front of their own supporters. Emery’s team have won 15 of their last 17 European home matches, including each of their last eight, and are averaging two goals per game at Villa Park in this season’s competition.

With little to lose, Bologna are expected to take an aggressive approach in search of an unlikely comeback. But with Villa in control, in form, and backed by a strong European home record, the Premier League side will believe a semi-final place is firmly within reach and The Holte End can start dreaming of silverware.

Aston Villa also have three remaining home fixtures in the Premier League with Emery’s men looking to cement their place in the UEFA Champions League spots. You can secure your seat with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package here.