- Aston Villa host Bologna on Thursday night for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final
- They currently lead 3-1 on aggregate, having beaten the Italian side last week
- Here’s all the details you need to know
Aston Villa continue their pursuit of silverware, as they host Bologna at Villa Park on Thursday night, for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
The Villans have a two-goal cushion, after last week’s 3-1 win at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins both capitalised on mistakes to put the visitors in front, before Jonathan Rowe’s strike reduced the deficit. Then, with the last kick of the game, Watkins scored the third, putting Villa in the ascendancy ahead of the second leg.
Last weekend, Unai Emery’s team was held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest, despite having golden opportunities right at the end. Regaining the clinical finishing that they showed in the first leg against Bologna will be needed to ensure it’s a rather comfortable night at Villa Park.
Meanwhile, the Italian side comfortably beat Lecce 2-0 on Sunday. They put in a real dominant display, restricting their opponents to just one shot on target. Despite the large comeback required at B6, they will be confident given the pressure they put Villa under and the chances they created last week.
It’s bound to be a different match compared to the opening leg, with Villa likely to have more of the ball and want to control the tempo of the game.
Here are the key details for tonight’s fixture:
How to watch
| Teams | Aston Villa vs Bologna |
| Date | Thursday 16th April |
| Kick Off | 20:00 UK time |
| Stadium | Villa Park |
| Watch Live (UK) | TNT Sports 2/HBO Max |
Team news
Aston Villa:
- Emi Martinez and Jadon Sancho to be assessed today, but they have returned to training
- Tyrone Mings also has returned to training
- Ross Barkley and Alysson not in Europa League squad list
Bologna:
- Jhon Lucumí is suspended
- Benja Domínguez, Eivind Helland, Thijs Dallinga, and Lukasz Skorupski are all ruled out
Predicted lineups
Aston Villa: Bizot, Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Luiz, McGinn, Tielemans, Buendia, Watkins
Bologna: Ravaglia, Mario, Heggem, Vitik, Miranda, Freuler, Pobega, Bernardeschi, Ferguson, Rowe, Castro
Managers have their say
Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
In his pre-match press conference, the boss discussed the occasion of playing in the quarter-final of the Europa League.
“To play in Europe and to play a quarter-final is a privilege. I am sharing it with the players, with the club and with the supporters and enjoying it.
“I like it a lot to play in Europe, and I’m so excited about how we are getting the last matches in the Premier League and how we are competing in the Europa League, I’m enjoying it a lot.
“I know tomorrow is a challenge, but it’s a match we must be really focused on and respectful of. I am enjoying today, I will be enjoying this afternoon, this evening, I’m going to enjoy tomorrow morning.
“Tomorrow at Villa Park, I expect a huge atmosphere, helping us, supporting us, enjoying. When we are in trouble, they must help us, the supporters, and they are going to push the players to play with energy, to play organised, to play with all the demands we will have from the opponent. And then we will play with personality.”
Vincenzo Italiano (Bologna)
Heading into the high-stakes Europa League quarter-final against Aston Villa, Vincenzo Italiano remained realistic but defiant, acknowledging that Bologna entered the tie as clear underdogs.
Speaking ahead of the first leg, the Rossoblù boss praised Unai Emery’s side as a “strong team with amazing individual players” who possess great value and a manager with a proven track record in European cup competitions.
“This is a mission that is almost impossible. I had asked the club to bring in Tom Cruise; he could give us a hand.
“We ruined the first leg with some lapses of concentration within what was otherwise a very high-level performance.
“Tomorrow, we must make life difficult for them, not let them have a quiet evening. It would be important not to concede. And then we have to try to hurt them: they do give something away, as we saw in both previous matches here.”
