Bologna vs Aston Villa: Lineups, Team News and Prediction

In a highly anticipated Europa League quarter-final first leg, Bologna, currently ranked 1st in the tournament, prepare to host Aston Villa, who stand 2nd, at their home ground. This intriguing European clash is set to kick off on Wednesday, April 9, 2026, at 8:00 PM BST.

Bologna vs Aston Villa Form

Bologna enter this fixture on the back of a tough run of results. Their last outing saw them fall to a 2-1 away defeat against Cremonese in Serie A. Over their last six matches across all competitions, the Italian side has struggled for consistency, registering one draw and five losses. This includes a dramatic 4-3 extra-time loss to Roma in the Europa League second leg, though they advanced on aggregate. Despite their recent domestic woes, Bologna have shown resilience in Europe, remaining unbeaten at home in this competition so far this season.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, boast a more impressive recent record. Their last match was a 2-1 victory over Elche in a Club Friendly, though their most recent competitive outing was a 2-0 home win against West Ham in the Premier League. Across their last six competitive fixtures, the Villans have secured four wins and suffered two defeats, demonstrating strong form, particularly in Europe where they have won seven consecutive Europa League matches.

Bologna vs Aston Villa Head to Head

This quarter-final tie brings together two teams who have already met twice in recent seasons. The most recent encounter saw Aston Villa claim a narrow 1-0 victory at home in the Europa League in September last year. The only other recorded meeting also ended in a win for the English side, a 2-0 home triumph in the Champions League in October 2024. With only two previous meetings, a broader six-match summary is not applicable, but it's clear Aston Villa have held the upper hand in their limited history against Bologna.

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Bologna vs. Aston Villa Odds

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Bologna vs Aston Villa Probable Lineups

Bologna (4-3-3):

Ravaglia; Mário, Lucumí, Heggem, Zortea; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Rowe, Castro, Bernardeschi

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1):

Martínez; Digne, Konsa, Torres, Cash; Luiz, Onana; Rogers, McGinn, Bailey; Watkins

Bologna vs Aston Villa Team News

Bologna's preparations have been significantly hampered by a lengthy injury list. Key defender Martin Vitík is suspended, while Thijs Dallinga, Jens Odgaard, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Benja Domínguez, and goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski are all sidelined due to injury. This forces Vincenzo Italiano to make substantial adjustments to both his defensive and offensive setups. Federico Bernardeschi, with five European goals, remains a crucial attacking outlet, supported by Jonathan Rowe, who has five goal involvements in his last six Europa League appearances. Santiago Castro is expected to lead the line.

Aston Villa travel with a relatively stronger squad, though they are without Boubacar Kamara and Jadon Sancho, both ruled out through injury. Unai Emery otherwise has a strong selection at his disposal. Ollie Watkins continues to lead the line for the visitors, having proven particularly effective in the latter stages of matches. John McGinn, who notably scored in both previous meetings with Bologna, remains a pivotal figure in midfield. Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers are expected to provide pace and directness from the flanks, with Douglas Luiz and Amadou Onana anchoring the midfield.

Bologna vs Aston Villa Match Facts

• Aston Villa have won seven consecutive Europa League matches.
• Bologna have remained unbeaten at home in the Europa League this season.
• Aston Villa have kept clean sheets in their last four European matches against Italian opposition.
• Bologna have had the most shots in the competition.

Prediction: Bologna 1-2 Aston Villa

This quarter-final first leg promises to be a captivating encounter between two sides with contrasting styles. While Bologna, under Vincenzo Italiano, possess a strong attacking intent and lead the competition in total shots, their recent form has been inconsistent, and they face significant injury and suspension concerns. Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, have been a formidable force in the Europa League, boasting a seven-match winning streak and impressive defensive solidity, particularly away from home and against Italian opposition. Despite Villa's past clean sheet record against Italian teams, Bologna's offensive capabilities, highlighted by their competition-leading shot tally, suggest they could find a way past the visitors' defence. However, Aston Villa's efficiency and ability to strike decisively, combined with their strong European away form, should see them edge this contest.

Best Bet: Both Teams to Score - Yes Check out the best odds on BetMGM Sportsbook

Given the predicted scoreline of 2-1 in favour of Aston Villa, a strong betting angle emerges with "Both Teams to Score - Yes." While Villa have demonstrated excellent defensive prowess, especially against Italian teams, Bologna's relentless attacking approach, evidenced by their high shot count and home form in the competition, makes it likely they will breach the visitors' defence. The home side's desire to gain an advantage in the first leg will fuel their offensive efforts, creating opportunities for goals at both ends of the pitch.

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