Aston Villa are contesting another European quarter-final, this time in the Europa League against Bologna. Youri Tielemans starts for Aston Villa for the first time since January.
Jonathan Rowe, who began his career at Norwich, lines up for Bologna, who are captained by Scotland international Lewis Ferguson. The first leg kicks off at 8pm BST.
Teams Named for First Leg
The team line-ups are as follows:
Bologna: Ravaglia, João Mário, Heggem, Lucumí, Miranda, Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega, Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe
Subs: Pessina, Franceschelli, Moro, Orsolini, Casale, Zortea, Odgaard, Sohm, Cambiaghi, Castaldo
Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Onana, Tielemans, Buendía, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Lindelöf, Mings, Elliott, Andrés García, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey
Villa’s European Ambitions
Aston Villa are getting pretty used to European quarter-finals. This is their third on the bounce: they beat Lille in the Conference League two years ago and fell just short against Paris Saint-Germain, the eventual champions, last April in the Champions League. Now it’s time for the Europa, with a visit to Bologna.
Unai Emery is in his element. He’s won this trophy four times, more than anyone else.
Villa have already beaten Bologna this season and Emery has Youri Tielemans back after two months out with an ankle injury. Things have been a little ropey in the league but they’re fourth and in with a serious shot at a first major trophy in 30 years.
Emery’s Respect for Bologna
“Bologna is a winner team, it’s a team that in the last years are playing fantastic and they are winning finals like last year [in the Coppa Italia],” warned Emery yesterday. Vincenzo Italiano, their head coach, reached successive Conference League finals with Fiorentina and – forget Villa’s drought – he ended Bologna’s 51-year trophy wait in 2025. Another party in the Piazza Maggiore is still in reach.
A Stadium with History
The Renato Dall’Ara stadium is a classic example of fascist architecture, marked by the imposing Maratona Tower. Mussolini oversaw the ceremonial opening in 1926; it was his last visit to Bologna, as someone tried to assassinate him in the city later that day.
With the first leg kicking off, both teams will be vying for an advantage to take into the return fixture.