Aston Villa vs Bologna preview: Team news, line-ups, prediction
Aston Villa return to the Europa League again this season when they take on Bologna at Villa Park on Thursday.
Unai Emery’s side have started the season awfully, picking up no wins in their first six games in all competitions, only scoring twice.
Monchi’s impending departure has added further uncertainty over Emery’s future as the Spanish manager desperately seeks to turn his fortunes around.
On Thursday, Emery will manage in a competition he has already won a record four times and will be hoping this brings with it a fresh start and an improved performance against Serie A outfit Bologna.
Form Guide (All competitions)
Aston Villa: LLDLD
Bologna: LLWLW
Team news
Morgan Rogers is expected to miss out against Bologna, and given his poor form to start the new campaign, it’s probably for the best, as Harvey Elliott could come in to replace him.
Ollie Watkins is another player to start the season slowly, and as a result, Donyell Malen could come in and lead the line.
Jadon Sancho impressed in his cameo against Sunderland, and the winger may now be handed his first European start in a claret and blue shirt in place of Emi Buendia.
Boubacar Kamara could keep his place in the starting XI alongside John McGinn as the defensive midfielder recently returned from injury.
Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne could also be rotated in favour of Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen, as Emery may decide to make changes to his backline.
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Predicted lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, McGinn, Guessand, Elliott, Sancho, Malen
Bologna: Skorupski, De Silvestri, Vitik, Heggem, Miranda, Moro, Freuler, Orsolini, Bernardeschi, Dominguez, Castro
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Bologna
If a big European tie under the lights at Villa Park can’t motivate this Villa team to perform, then it may be well and truly over for any hope of Emery to turn things around in B6.
Villa are the favourites to win the Europa League, and winning a trophy would be a just reward for all the good work he has done at the club.
Expect Sancho to open the scoring, considering he will be desperate to impress, and the winger could be the inspiration the Villans need to get their first win of the season over the line.
Even if Bologna do pull a goal back, Guessand, who came close to scoring against Sunderland, will find the back of the net to secure a valuable win for Villa.
That would make it a perfect evening under the lights.
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