2025-26 UEL Quarter-Finals: First Leg – Bologna vs Aston Villa

Bologna host Aston Villa in the first leg of their Quarter-Final tie in 2025-26 UEFA Europa League. 

Bologna overcame Italian rival, AS Roma in the Round of 16 to secure their passage to this Quarter-Final tie, whilst Villa clinically dispatched Lille.

 

Team News

Martin Vitik is suspended for Bologna due to having accumulated three yellow-card bookings in this season’s competition.

Benjamin Dominguez (muscle), Charalampos Lykogiannis (tendonitis) and Jens Odgaard (quad) are doubts., but Juan Miranda is available after he was suspended for the second leg of their Round of 16 tie against AS Roma.

Lukas Skorupski (hamstring) and Thijs Dallinga (tendonitis) are ruled out.

Villa will be without winger, Jadon Sancho after he suffered a shoulder injury during their friendly against Spain’s Elche in the international break.

Boubacar Kamara remains absent with a knee injury, whilst Ross Barkley is ineligible after he wasn’t named in Villa’s squad for this competition.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Bologna host Villa at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Thursday 9 April at 9pm CEST (8pm BST), live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Bologna are yet to beat Aston Villa in all UEFA competitions.
• Villa are making their first competitive visit to Bologna across all UEFA competitions.
• Bologna are yet to score against Villa after two previous meetings in which they conceded three goals without reply, of which two of their three conceded goals were scored by John McGinn.
• Federico Bernardeschi has scored in each of Bologna’s last two knockout matches, which saw them draw 1-1 at home against AS Roma then win 4-3 after extra time in the Round of 16.
• Only one of McGinn’s three goals for Villa in this season’s Europa League were scored away from home.

 

Prediction

With no defeats in this competition since their opening league-phase loss at Villa, Bologna will view this as a chance to measure their progress since that game and with home advantage over Villa for the first time but even a goal here will be a positive as long as they avoid losing this.

Villa meanwhile seemed to find their groove again just before the international break with clean sheets over Lille and West Ham at home, in which they had to be clinical and patient so this might just be another match where patience and the long game might suit them.

I however do expect this to be close and wouldn’t be surprised if both teams go into the second leg with a goal apiece.

Prediction: Bologna 1-1 Aston Villa

Result: Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa