Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Tue 14 April 2026 12:10, UK

Aston Villa are preparing for a big Europa League quarter-final second leg, with Bologna making the trip to Villa Park on Thursday.

Unai Emery’s side got the job done in Emilia-Romagna last week, with goals from Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins securing a 3-1 win on their travels.

Bringing a two-goal lead back to the Midlands, the Villans are firm favourites to secure their semi-final spot, but remain professional ahead of what carries the potential to be a banana skin clash.

Villa played out a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, keeping them well in the hunt for a Champions League spot, with Chelsea sitting seven points behind in sixth.

On the same day, Remo Freuler and Riccardo Orsolini found the back of the net as Bologna beat Lecce 2-0 to remain eighth in Serie A, before looking to get revenge in the Second City.

Form guide

Aston Villa (last six games all comps): DWWWLW

Bologna (last six games all comps): WLWLWW

Head-to-head

Thursday’s clash will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, and the second at Villa Park.

Back in the league phase, John McGinn would net a 13th-minute winner as the Villans secured all three points.

Alongside the two Europa League meetings this term, Villa also squared off against the Rossoblu in the Champions League last season.

Jhon Duran and McGinn would score that evening, leaving the B6 outfit with a 100 per cent record against Vincenzo Italiano’s side.

Team news and predicted lineups

After a hectic week, Emery may see Thursday’s clash as an ideal chance to rotate given the scoreline.

Out-of-form wide man Leon Bailey could be given a chance to start, with his boss likely desperate to see him build some momentum ahead of what is set to be a tense race to the end of the season.

Morgan Rogers could drop out for a rest, having played 90 minutes against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, after racking up 88 minutes in Bologna on Thursday.

It remains touch-and-go with Emi Martinez, after the Argentine was withdrawn from the lineup at the City Ground, meaning that Marco Bizot could continue to deputise.

Boubacar Kamara remains sidelined for the rest of the season, while Jadon Sancho will continue to miss out through an injury sustained during the international break.

For Bologna, first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski will miss the action again as he recovers from a hamstring injury, alongside exciting winger Benjamin Dominguez.

Jhon Lucumi will miss the second leg through suspension, just as Martin Vitik returns from his ban, while Elvind Helland, Thijs Dallinga and Charalampos Lykogiannis are all doubts.

Aston Villa predicted XI: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Bailey; Watkins

Bologna predicted XI: Ravaglia; Mario, Vitik, Heggem, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernadeschi, Castro, Rowe

We say: Aston Villa 2-1 Bologna

Villa are the firm favourites heading into the second leg, having put in a remarkably professional performance away from home in the first leg.

Carrying a two-goal lead, Emery will look to manage the encounter.

And with the Rossoblu likely to throw men forward in a bid to start a comeback, the B6 outfit may sniff the chance to work opportunities on the break, sealing a semi-final spot for the Villans.