- Aston Villa face Bologna on Thursday April 9th for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final
- Four players are one yellow card away from being suspended for the second leg
- After the quart-final, the yellow card quota is reset
Aston Villa travel to Italy on Thursday 9th April with a significant disciplinary cloud hanging over their Europa League quarter-final clash against Bologna.
While Unai Emery’s side are favourites to progress, four key players are currently walking a disciplinary tightrope, knowing one yellow card will trigger an automatic one-match suspension which could derail Villa’s plans for the return fixture at Villa Park.
It will be their first match in two-and-a-half weeks due to the international break.
It won’t be the first time the Villans have played the Italian club this season, having beaten them 1-0 in the league phase back in September. Since the result, Vincenzo Italiano’s side are undefeated in their last eleven European games.
Unai Emery will be hoping four of his players escape the match without receiving a yellow card, or they will miss the second leg through suspension.
Captain John McGinn is the biggest name of the four. The Scots recent return from injury has provided a large boost to the squad. Whilst he was sidelined, Villa looked lost without him, so it will be crucial that he doesn’t go into the referee’s book on Thursday night.
Full-back pairing Matty Cash and Lucas Digne are also at risk. Although the former has only started four of the Europa League games, with Lamare Bogarde covering this trend could continue.
Victor Lindelöf is the final player who may be playing with extra caution. The Swede has started seven times in Europe and has put in some really solid performances.
How could Villa lineup?
Given the lengthy break and the context of the match, Emery may decide to go with a stronger team than usual, meaning the majority of the four may play.
As it is an away leg, we’ve seen the Spaniard in the past go for a more defensive lineup. If this is the case, then Digne is likely to start ahead of Ian Maatsen and Bogarde ahead of Cash.
Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres would be expected to partner each other at centre-back, leaving Lindelöf to be on the bench.
Regardless of the type of lineup Emery opts for, McGinn is almost guaranteed to start. His leadership and energy are vital in these games as it seems to give the whole team a lift.
Villa will want to be defensively sound in this opening tie, to ensure they have the best chance of winning at Villa Park in the second leg.
They cannot afford to underestimate their opponents or drop their performance levels. The Europa League is their best opportunity to end their 30-year trophyless run, and supporters want nothing more than to taste silverware. A win on Thursday night will be a step in the right direction.
