Aston Villa took control of their Europa League quarter-final tie in Italy, beating Bologna 3-1 as Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins starred for Unai Emery’s side.
Bologna started strongly and should have taken the lead in the first half. The hosts, on a 20-game unbeaten European run at home and playing their first continental quarter-final, dominated early. A Konsa own goal from Santiago Castro’s cross was ruled out by VAR for a tight offside, and Lewis Ferguson hit the bar after turning Jonathan Rowe’s cross onto the woodwork.
Against the run of play, Villa went in front thanks to sloppy defending. Goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia came out for a Youri Tielemans corner and missed, allowing Konsa to head into an empty net.
The second half began badly for Bologna. A loose cross-field pass was pressed by Emiliano Buendia, the ball fell to Watkins, and he finished to make it 2-0 — his third goal in five games and a response to being left out of the England squad. Villa then looked more comfortable, though Bologna continued to threaten through Rowe. He set up Federico Bernardeschi, who struck the post, and had a top-corner effort saved by Emiliano Martinez.
Rowe finally got on the scoresheet in the 90th minute, smashing a finish past Martinez to give Bologna hope ahead of the second leg. But Watkins sealed the win by converting a corner with the last kick of the game, making it 3-1.
Watkins told TNT Sports he felt Villa were lucky in the first half but that the set-piece goal changed the game. He said he was hungry and ready for more action as Villa head back to Birmingham with a two-goal advantage.
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz highlighted Emery’s record in the Europa League, noting that when the Spaniard reaches the latter stages his teams seldom slip up. Blitz praised Villa’s set-piece efficiency and the impact of Tielemans, who returned to the starting XI and created four chances, three of them big chances. Ollie Watkins was credited with clinical finishing and hold-up play, creating two big chances in addition to his two goals.
Emery acknowledged that Villa were “a little bit shy” in the first half and needed more composure in possession, but he praised the second-half performance and the team’s ability to control long spells. He warned that Bologna will try to suppress Villa in the second leg and said his side will need a new plan for that match.
The tie returns to Villa Park next week, with the second leg set to decide who progresses to the Europa League semi-finals.
What’s next?
– Aston Villa fixtures
– Europa League fixtures