Aston Villa host Bologna in the second leg of their Quarter-Final tie in 2025-26 UEFA Europa League.
With a 3-1 aggregate lead from the first leg, Villa must simply avoid defeat to secure a semi-final spot.
Bologna meanwhile must win by three goals or more to overturn their aggregate deficit and reach the last four of this season’s Europa League.
Team News
Emiliano Martinez is set to be available for Villa after he sat out their 1-1 Premier League draw at Nottingham Forest due to a minor calf injury, which he had suffered during their pre-match warm-up.
Ross Barkley is ineligible after he was left out of Villa’s Europa League squad, whilst Alysson (muscle), Boubacar Kamara (knee) and Jadon Sancho (shoulder) remain absent.
Bologna will welcome Martin Vitik back into contention after he was suspended for the first leg of this tie.
Jhon Lucumi however is suspended for the trip to Villa Park after he picked up his third booking of the campaign in the first leg at home.
Charalampos Lykogiannis and Thijs Dallinga both face late fitness test as they continue to deal with separate tendonitis injuries, but Benjamin Dominguez (hip) and Lukas Skorupski (hamstring) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa host Bologna at Villa Park on Thursday 16 April at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Villa have never lost to Bologna in all UEFA competitions (W3).
- Bologna lost each of their two previous visits to Villa (L2).
- Villa are yet to concede against Bologna at home across all UEFA competitions (W2), having won 2-0 in the League Phase of last season’s Champions League then 1-0 at the same stage in this season’s Europa League.
- Ollie Watkins has scored three goals in two of Villa’s last three matches in this competition (W3).
- Santiago Castro has scored in each of Bologna’s two away matches in the knockout stages of this season’s competition (W2).
Prediction
With their fate in their own hands and yet to lose at home in Europe this season, Villa should come into this game full of confidence especially with two home wins over Bologna without conceding, but a two-goal aggregate lead margin can be put at risk if they concede first here.
Bologna though will take heart from how dominant they were in the first leg but their defensive play from set pieces was their downfall, so a huge improvement in that aspect is crucial if they’re to turn the tie around but they ideally need an early goal and kick on if wish to make a comeback.
Villa Park though will be right up for this and I just can’t see Villa losing this given their home form in Europe this season, but Bologna will hopefully give them another test.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Bologna
Leave a Reply