Aston Villa will take a 3-1 advantage into the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Bologna following a hard-fought victory in Italy.
2025/2026 UEFA Europa League
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Match Report
After surviving a string of Bologna attacks, Villa led through a header from Ezri Konsa, which came against the run of play in the dying seconds of the first half, before Ollie Watkins doubled their advantage six minutes into the second.
Bologna's English attacker Jonathan Rowe struck with a brilliant curling effort past Emiliano Martinez in the 90th minute before Watkins scored from a corner in injury time to restore their two-goal advantage before the return fixture.
But Unai Emery's side were handed two huge reprieves in the first half as they struggled to find a foothold at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
Rowe was a lively presence on the left wing for the home side and fed Santiago Castro, who saw his effort take a deflection off Konsa on its way into the goal - despite an attempt from Matty Cash to clear it off the line.
The Serie A side's 28th-minute opener, however, did not stand, disallowed for a tight offside on Castro after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Two minute's later, Scotland's Lewis Ferguson's shot hit the crossbar after Rowe's cross.
But the Premier League side struck in the 44th minute from a rare corner kick as defender Konsa headed in at the far post with Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia failing to collect Youri Tielemans' delivery after coming off the line.
Watkins then pounced on a mistake by Torbjorn Heggem and finished through the legs of Ravaglia to pull his side further ahead in the 51st minute.
Rowe reduced the deficit in the closing stages to give Bologna hope, which was distinguished immediately by Watkins' second in the 95th minute as the 1982 European champions took a big step towards a place in the semi-finals.
Line-ups
Bologna XI: Freuler, Bernardeschi, Jhon Lucumí, Tommaso Pobega, Federico Ravaglia, Juan Miranda, Lewis Ferguson, Torbjørn Heggem, João Mário, Jonathan Rowe, Santiago Castro
Subs: Nikola Moro, Orsolini, Jens Odgaard, Nicolò Casale, Simon Sohm, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Nadir Zortea, Massimo Pessina, Francesco Castaldo, Matteo Franceschelli
Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Buendia, P. Torres, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana
Subs: Lindelof, Marco Bizot, Mings, Abraham, Bailey, Douglas Luiz, Elliott, Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, James Wright, Andrés García