Aston Villa secured a convincing 4-0 win over Bologna, completing a 7-1 aggregate victory in their Europa League quarter-final and setting up a semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest. Ollie Watkins scored his 100th goal for Aston Villa, finishing off a well-crafted team move early in the game. Despite Morgan Rogers having a penalty saved, Emiliano Buendia added a second goal just 46 seconds later, and Rogers made amends before the break.
The win marked a significant moment for Rogers, who ended a 12-game scoring drought for club and country. The second half was a straightforward affair, with Ezri Konsa capping off the victory with a late goal.
Aston Villa's starting lineup featured Emi Martinez, who returned after being rested, and the team's performance was closer to their best, overwhelming the Italian opposition from the start. Unai Emery's side is now favorites to win the competition, having cruised through the tournament so far.
With a seven-point lead over sixth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League, Champions League qualification is likely, but Emery is determined to win the Europa League for the fifth time. The semi-final against Nottingham Forest will be the first all-English semi-final in a European competition since 2009.
Watkins, who has been working to regain his form, has now scored four goals in four games and is focused on reaching the next milestone of 100 Premier League goals. When asked about his England recall, Watkins stated that he needs to keep scoring goals and will have to do his talking on the pitch.