Credit: Imago

James Barker

Mon 6 April 2026 11:10, UK

Aston Villa‘s underlying stats in the Europa League have been considerably better than in the Premier League this season.

Unai Emery‘s side resume their 2025-26 season on Thursday, as they travel to Italy for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Villa made light work of French outfit Lille in the Round of 16, winning 3-0 on aggregate, moving one step closer to getting their hands on the European Cup.

Sandwiched between this two-legged tie is a big Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, which could have a big say in the race for the top four and in the relegation battle respectively.

However, it’s indeed in Europe that Aston Villa’s performances and underlying numbers have been superior to that of their Premier League campaign.

Aston Villa’s Europa League and Premier League stats compared

Bologna will be a tough test for Aston Villa, with the Serie A outfit being a physical side who aren’t easy to play against.

As such, Emery’s men will have to be at their best to secure a place in the semi-finals, but their best is largely what they’ve been giving in the Europa League this season.

As per Sofascore, Villa have scored more goals per game (1.7 to 1.4), registered more shots on target per game (5.1 to 4.4) and conceded less per match (0.6 to 1.2) in Europe than in the Premier League this season.

They’ve also averaged more saves per 90 (4.2 to 2.9), had more possession (56.4 per cent to 53.6 per cent) and played more accurate passes per game (87.2 per cent to 85.1 per cent) respectively.

In the Premier League, Villa have created 2.0 big chances per game and missed 1.5 of them, but in the Europa League, they’ve created 2.8 and missed 1.9.

Villa haven’t been playing any old side in Europe this season either, with some challenging away games at the likes of Feyenoord, Basel, Fenerbahce and Lille respectively.

So, this does bode well for the Villans’ chances of going all the way in the competition, and lifting the trophy would be another means to securing Champions League football for next season too.

Villa will need to improve from last time out vs Bologna

Aston Villa also know all about their quarter-final opponents Bologna too, with the two sides having contested a league phase game back in September last year.

John McGinn was on the scoresheet that day, as he has been the last two times these sides have met, with the Villans running out 1-0 winners at Villa Park.

Bologna actually had more of the ball that day with 53 per cent possession, registered more shots on goal (17 to 12) and created two big chances to Villa’s one.

The Italians also completed more passes (373 to 338), won considerably more tackles (28 to 16) and also hit the woodwork once, but McGinn’s excellent strike on 13 minutes was enough to win the game.

So, Emery’s side will need to be better than their last performance against Bologna if they wish to beat them over two legs, as the Serie A side will be confident that they can triumph over the boys from B6.