Aston Villa host Bologna at Villa Park in the League Phase of 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
Victory could put Villa top until Wednesday evening if Borussia Dortmund fails to beat Real Madrid.
Bologna meanwhile can climb into the knockout play-off placings with a win.
Team News
Robin Olsen could return for Villa after he missed their 3-1 Premier League win at Fulham with a minor injury.
Tyrone Mings (knee) is very close to a first-team return, although he won’t be risked unless fully match fit for selection.
Bologna could welcome Dan Ndoye back after he missed their 2-2 Serie A draw at Genoa with a muscle injury.
Martin Erlic (leg), Lewis Ferguson, Samuel Iling-Junior (both knee) and Michel Aebischer (muscle) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa host Bologna at Villa Park on Tuesday 22 October at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Aston Villa’s first competitive meeting against Bologna.
- Bologna are visiting Villa for the first time in their history.
- Villa have won two of three previous home games against Italian opposition in all UEFA competitions (W2, L1),keeping clean sheets in their last two such matches.
- Bologna lost 3-1 to Fulham in August 2002 in their only previous away match against English opposition in all UEFA competitions.
- All four of Villa’s bookings so far in the league phase came in the second half.
Prediction
Unbeaten in their first two games of this phase without conceding, Villa have adapted well to the Champions League and will view this game as winnable after a clinical comeback at Fulham after a slow start.
Bologna meanwhile have just one win in all competitions this season but they do know how to grind out draws despite just two clean sheets, so I do expect them to sit back and frustrate Villa.
I however do feel that Villa will just have too much for Bologna given their strong form this season.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna
Result: Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna