Aston Villa delivered a commanding performance at Villa Park, defeating Bologna 4-0 to seal a 7-1 aggregate victory in the Europa League quarter‑finals and earn a place in the semi‑final against Nottingham Forest. The match opened with an elegant team move that saw Ollie Watkins finish the build‑up, marking his 100th goal for the club. Shortly after, a penalty awarded to Morgan Rogers was saved, but Emiliano Buendía quickly restored the lead, converting the rebound within 46 seconds.
Rogers later redeemed himself before the interval, ending a twelve‑game drought for both club and country and providing a much‑needed confidence boost. The second half unfolded as a procession for Villa. After a period of sustained pressure, centre‑back Ezri Konsa added a late goal, sealing the comprehensive win. The starting XI featured Emi Martínez in goal, with a back line of Cash, Konsa, Pau, and Digne.
In midfield, Tielemans, Onana, and McGinn dictated the tempo, while the attacking trio of Rogers, Buendía and Watkins finished the match. Substitutes Abraham, Bailey, Sancho, Douglas Luiz and Bogarde were all available on the bench.
Bologna’s line‑up included Ravaglia, João Mario, Vitik, Freuler, Casale, Miranda, Ferguson, Moro, Bernardeschi, Rowe and Castro, with Orsolini, Zortea, Sohm, Odgaard and Heggem on the bench. Ollie Watkins was named player of the match.
Unai Emery, renowned for his Europa League expertise, has guided Villa through the competition with relative ease, and this victory underlines their status as clear favourites. With the win, Villa sit seven points clear of Chelsea in the Premier League, putting Champions League qualification within reach via the league route. However, Emery has repeatedly expressed his ambition to secure a fifth Europa League title, a goal that now hinges on overcoming Forest in the semi‑finals. Emi Martínez returned to the starting eleven as Emery reinstated the same lineup that had triumphed in Italy.
Bologna’s side featured Scotland’s Lewis Ferguson and England U‑21 international Jonathan Rowe, among others. While Watkins’ form had dipped earlier in the season, prompting calls for Tammy Abraham to lead the line, the 30‑year‑old English striker responded emphatically. After scoring against West Ham before the international break, he netted a brace in the first‑leg win and added another in the return fixture, bringing his tally to four goals in four Europa League games and signalling a resurgence.
The semi‑final will be the first all‑English encounter in a European competition since Arsenal faced Manchester United in 2009, and the first all‑English Europa League semi‑final since Liverpool met Tottenham in 1973. The first leg is scheduled for 30 April at the City Ground, with the return leg set for 7 May at Villa Park. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Watkins reflected on reaching the 100‑goal milestone: "It’s a landmark every striker dreams of.
My next target is 100 Premier League goals, and that’s what I’m focused on. It’s an exciting period for me and the team – we’re fit, we’re playing our best football, and we have everything to play for. If someone had told me we’d be battling for a Champions League spot and a European semi‑final, I would have laughed." Watkins joins an elite group of Premier League players to have scored 100 goals in all competitions since joining Aston Villa, alongside Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland. He also overtook club legends Peter Withe and John McGinn to become Villa’s all‑time leading scorer in major European tournaments, with ten goals to his name.
When asked about an England recall, Watkins summed it up succinctly: "Keep scoring goals – that’s all I can do. I was disappointed not to be in the last squad, but I understand the decision. I’ll let my performances speak for themselves." Captain John McGinn praised the team’s display: "It was a superb performance; we needed a strong first half, and we delivered. Scoring early set the tone and now we’re in the semi‑final.
We have a big game on Sunday and our aim is to finish in the top five, but we’re thrilled to be this far." Emery highlighted the significance of the upcoming tie: "Both clubs have a rich European pedigree – Nottingham Forest have won the European Cup twice, and Aston Villa have lifted this trophy before. Reaching the semi‑final is huge for both sets of supporters, and it could lead to a final. Semi‑finals are tough, but we’re ready for the challenge." Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano admitted the difficulty of the task: "We made a mistake in the first leg, losing 3‑1, and today we tried to play our own game, but Villa took advantage of every chance.
They are stronger, one step ahead, and they punish any error. They missed out on the Champions League by a single goal, but they are a quality side, and we were unlucky to meet them at this stage." The victory not only propels Villa into a historic semi‑final but also reinforces Emery’s reputation for navigating European knockout rounds. With the squad in good health and confidence soaring, the focus now shifts to preparing for Nottingham Forest’s challenge, a match that promises to be a showcase of English football talent on the continental stage. For fans wanting the latest updates, Sky Sports offers an app, a WhatsApp channel, and regular coverage of all developments surrounding Aston Villa’s European campaign.