Aston Villa face Bologna in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday evening. Unai Emery’s men came out 3-1 winners in the first leg in Italy last week and are the bookies’ favourites to advance to the last-4. The game kicks-off at 8:00pm from Villa Park and you can find our match preview and best bets below.
Best bets & predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ollie Watkins to Score Anytime | 29/20 @ Bet365 (40.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Ollie Watkins made the difference in last week’s first leg with a brace, and he once again stands out as a strong candidate to find the net in Thursday’s return. After a slow start to his Europa League campaign, going goalless in his opening eight appearances, he has hit form at the right time with three goals in his last three European matches. |
| Aston Villa to Win & BTTS | 5/2 @ BetMGM (28.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Aston Villa are on a run of scoring in six straight home games, though they have also conceded in most of those, showing they can be vulnerable defensively at Villa Park. Bologna will need to attack as they look to overturn a two-goal deficit, and their record of scoring in 19 consecutive away matches suggests they can contribute. With the visitors pushing forward and leaving gaps behind, the game looks set up for chances at both ends. |
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How both teams head into Aston Villa vs Bologna
Aston Villa have been handed a boost in the race for a top-five Premier League finish after Chelsea’s defeat at the weekend, easing some of the pressure on Unai Emery and his squad. That allows Villa to stay focused on the Europa League, where they are among the favourites to go all the way.
A 3-1 first-leg win over Bologna has put them in a strong position, but Emery’s experience means there will be no complacency. With Bologna improving away from home in recent weeks, Villa will be expected to stay disciplined and avoid giving their opponents any momentum in the second leg.
Bologna will know the importance of striking first, especially with no away goals rule in play, and their record of six wins in their last seven away matches should give them confidence. They showed their attacking threat in the previous round when they led 3-1 away at AS Roma before being pulled back, a performance that will still offer belief going into this second leg.
However, their recent visits to Aston Villa have not been encouraging, with two defeats and no goals scored. That history highlights the challenge they face as they look to overturn the deficit.
Aston Villa team news
Aston Villa head into the second leg with a relatively light injury list, though Boubacar Kamara remains sidelined with a long-term knee issue, while Jadon Sancho is a doubt with a shoulder problem. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also being assessed after a recent calf concern, while Ross Barkley is unavailable due to squad registration rules. Overall, the squad is close to full strength, giving Unai Emery plenty of options.
Bologna team news
Bologna head into the second leg with several key absentees, including Martin Vitik through suspension and injuries to Lukasz Skorupski and Benjamin Dominguez. There are also doubts over Thijs Dallinga and Charalampos Lykogiannis, which could limit their attacking options.
Head-to-head
There are only three competitive meetings on record between Aston Villa and Bologna, all coming in recent European competition.
Villa lead the head-to-head 3 wins from 3 matches, with Bologna yet to win and no draws recorded. Villa have scored 7 goals in total, while Bologna have managed 1 goal across those games. The most recent meeting was the Europa League quarter-final first leg in April 2026, where Villa won 3-1 away in Italy.
Earlier in the same European run, Villa also recorded victories in both the league phase and another earlier fixture, including a 2-0 win in 2024 and a 1-0 win in 2025.
Conclusion
Unai Emery’s experience should help keep Aston Villa in control of the tie and limit any late uncertainty in this quarter-final. As Bologna push forward in search of a way back, Villa could find more space to exploit in transition.
In the betting angles, Ollie Watkins is viewed as a strong option to score at 29/20 with BetMGM, while Villa winning with both teams scoring at 5/2, also appeals given the expected open nature of the second leg.
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