Aston Villa took a major step toward the Europa League semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over Bologna in Italy, a result driven by Ollie Watkins and defender Ezri Konsa as Unai Emery’s side managed the tie despite a rocky start. Bologna arrived on a 20-game unbeaten European run at home and dominated the early stages in their first continental quarter-final, creating the clearer first-half openings.
Bologna had a goal from a Konsa own goal called back by VAR for a tight offside from Santiago Castro’s cross, and Lewis Ferguson rattled the bar after turning Jonathan Rowe’s delivery onto the woodwork. But Villa took the lead against the run of play when sloppy defending from Bologna allowed a Youri Tielemans corner to bounce around the box; goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia missed his punch and Konsa headed into an empty net.
The second half began poorly for the hosts. A loose cross-field pass was pressured by Emiliano Buendía, the ball fell to Watkins and he calmly finished to make it 2-0 — his third in five matches and a timely response to his omission from the England squad. Villa grew more comfortable after that, though Bologna continued to threaten; Rowe forced a fine save from Emiliano Martínez and set up Federico Bernardeschi, who hit the post.
Rowe pulled one back in the 90th minute with a powerful finish that gave Bologna hope heading back to Villa Park. But Watkins ensured the result with the final kick of the game, converting from a corner to make it 3-1 and hand Villa a two-goal cushion going into the second leg.
Speaking after the match, Watkins told TNT Sports he felt Villa had been fortunate in the first half but that the set-piece goal changed the dynamics. He said he was hungry for more and relishing the challenge of returning to Birmingham with a lead. Emery admitted the team had been ‘a little bit shy’ in the opening period and needed to be more composed in possession, but he praised the second-half control and said the squad must prepare a different plan for the return fixture because Bologna will look to stifle them.
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz highlighted Emery’s Europa League pedigree, noting that when the Spaniard reaches the latter stages his teams rarely slip up. Blitz praised Villa’s effectiveness from set pieces and singled out Tielemans for creating four chances, three of them big opportunities. Watkins was credited for clinical finishing and valuable hold-up play, contributing two big chances in addition to his goals.
The tie returns to Villa Park next week, where the second leg will decide who progresses to the semi-finals. Villa travel back to Birmingham with a 3-1 advantage and momentum to protect, while Bologna will seek to overturn the deficit on home soil.