UEFA Europa League Gameweek 1
Aston Villa 1 - 0 FT Bologna
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
13' J. McGinn
42' Matty Cash
HT
58' ↓ E. Buendia ↑J. Sancho
58' ↓ D. Malen ↑O. Watkins
Jhon Lucumí 66'
Martin Vitík 66'
↓ F. Bernardeschi ↑R. Orsolini 70'
↓ N. Zortea ↑E. Holm 70'
↓ N. Cambiaghi ↑J. Rowe 70'
71' John McGinn
74' ↓ I. Maatsen ↑L. Digne
↓ S. Castro ↑T. Dallinga 83'
↓ J. Odgaard ↑G. Fabbian 83'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Marco Bizot 
OCTOPUS
7
Saves
7
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Matty Cash 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Ezri Konsa 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Pau Torres 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
64%
Duel Win %
Ian Maatsen 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
74
Entry
Midfielders
John McGinn 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Boubacar Kamara 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
12
Duels Won
86%
Win %
Evann Guessand
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Morgan Rogers
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Emiliano Buendía
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
Forwards
Donyell Malen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
BENCH
Sam Proctor 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Russ Oakley
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Victor Lindelöf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tyrone Mings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Digne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrés García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Harvey Elliott
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bradley Burrowes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ollie Watkins
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jadon Sancho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bologna
Goalkeepers
Łukasz Skorupski 
PENALTY HERO
1
Pens Saved
1
Pens Saved
3
Saves
7.9
Rating
Defenders
Nadir Zortea
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Martin Vitík 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
3
Fouls
6.7
Rating
Jhon Lucumí
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Charalampos Lykogiannis 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Federico Bernardeschi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Lewis Ferguson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Remo Freuler 
MAGNET
75
Activity
75
Activity
62
Passes
13
Duels
Nicolò Cambiaghi
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Santiago Castro
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Jens Odgaard
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Federico Ravaglia
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Massimo Pessina
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Emil Holm
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Torbjørn Heggem
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Miranda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nikola Moro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Giovanni Fabbian
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Riccardo Orsolini
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonathan Rowe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thijs Dallinga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/09/2026 | Bologna | 1 - 3 | Aston Villa | UEFA Europa League | Renato Dall'Ara |
| 09/25/2025 | Aston Villa | 1 - 0 | Bologna | UEFA Europa League | Villa Park |
| 10/22/2024 | Aston Villa | 2 - 0 | Bologna | UEFA Champions League | Villa Park |
04/09/2026
09/25/2025
10/22/2024
Aston Villa Win
Bologna Win
Draw
League Standings
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +5
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -7
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -10
P: 8 GD: -11
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Aston Villa
Bologna
Aston Villa
Bologna
Villa Park Fortress Denies Brave Bologna
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 24/100. John McGinn's early strike and a monumental goalkeeping display ensured the hosts kept their flawless European momentum intact despite heavy Italian pressure.
The Early Breakthrough
Set the scene under the floodlights at Villa Park, where European nights always carry a special weight. The Stakes were unmistakably high from the opening exchanges, with both sides flying high in the league phase and desperate to cement their credentials. Aston Villa wasted absolutely no time asserting their authority. Just 13 minutes in, J. McGinn found the back of the net, dispatching a clinical finish that sent the home supporters into a frenzy. Bologna edged possession with 53 percent of the ball, attempting to dictate the tempo through midfield combinations, but the early breakthrough forced the Italian side to completely abandon their cautious tactical approach and chase the game immediately. The visitors suddenly found themselves needing to break down a rigid defence, setting up a fascinating tactical chess match.
The Italian Siege
The Intensity dialed up significantly as Bologna responded with an absolute barrage of attacking sequences. They registered 17 total shots, testing the home defence from every conceivable angle. This was exactly where Marco Bizot stepped up to completely alter the course of the tie. Bologna's attack, spearheaded by the relentless running and vision of Riccardo Orsolini, threw everything at the Villa net. Yet, Bizot stood as an immovable wall, pulling off seven crucial saves to deny the visitors. At the other end, Villa cleverly piled on the set-piece pressure. By racking up eight corners, they broke up the visitors' rhythm and kept the Italian defence constantly looking over their shoulders. The goalkeeping heroics became the definitive story of the middle third, as Bizot's sharp reflexes continually frustrated a growingly desperate Italian frontline.
Holding the Line
Despite the slender lead on the scoreboard, the Balance of the match remained on a sheer knife-edge until the final whistle blew. Pau Torres orchestrated the backline brilliantly, ensuring Aston Villa absorbed the late pressure without buckling under the weight. Bologna pushed incredibly hard, managing 11 shots inside the penalty box, but simply couldn't find the crucial finishing touch to secure an equalizer. This gritty 1-0 victory keeps the English side firmly entrenched near the top of the table, extending their flawless winning streak. For the travelling Italians, it is a deeply frustrating blank, though their undeniable attacking intent proved they absolutely belong in the knockout conversation as the tournament progresses. The defensive resilience shown by the hosts will delight their manager, proving they can grind out results when not firing on all cylinders offensively.
Key Questions
What made Marco Bizot the Man of the Match?
Marco Bizot delivered a flawless performance, making seven critical saves against a relentless Bologna attack to single-handedly preserve Aston Villa's 1-0 clean sheet.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
European Ambitions Clash at Villa Park
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 13/100. With top-8 direct qualification looming as the ultimate prize, this tactical chess match will test just how far both sides can go.
The Setup
The atmosphere at Villa Park will be electric on September 25, 2025. Aston Villa's relentless Form is the story of the competition so far. Five straight wins and second place in the league phase standings demonstrate their sheer quality. Their midfield engine, featuring M. Rogers and A. Onana, is crushing opponents week after week. Bologna, meanwhile, arrive in 10th place, right on the cusp of direct qualification. They boast a solid unbeaten streak of their own, leaning heavily on the attacking threat of S. Castro and the defensive grit of J. Lucumí. The Balance of power shifts slightly to the hosts, but the Italians' defensive resilience means the Stakes remain incredibly high for navigating the top-24 playoff line. Despite a modest rating for global Stars, the pure intensity of this European night guarantees massive drama.
Key Battle
The definitive clash happens right in the middle of the park. Aston Villa's surging midfield faces off against a famously stubborn Italian defensive structure. The home side loves to dictate the tempo through the center, but Bologna's unit is expertly built to absorb heavy pressure and hit back ruthlessly on the counter. Breaking that rigid structure down will be the ultimate challenge for the hosts.
Our Prediction
Expect a tight, grueling affair from the first whistle. Aston Villa will dominate early possession and territory, but Bologna are perfectly comfortable playing without the ball to frustrate their opponents. Our take is a hard-fought 1-0 victory for the English side, secured late in the second half through sheer midfield persistence.