UEFA Europa League Quarter-finals
Bologna 1 - 3 FT Aston Villa
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
14' J. Lucumi
26' E. Konsa
E. Konsa (Y. Tielemans) 44'
HT
O. Watkins (E. Buendia) 51'
65' T. Pobega
67' ↓ L. Ferguson ↑R. Orsolini
67' ↓ T. Pobega ↑N. Moro
↓ A. Onana ↑L. Bogarde 80'
82' ↓ S. Castro ↑J. Odgaard
M. Rogers 85'
↓ M. Rogers ↑I. Maatsen 88'
↓ E. Buendia ↑L. Bailey 88'
90' J. Rowe (J. Lucumi)
90' ↓ R. Freuler ↑N. Cambiaghi
O. Watkins (Y. Tielemans) 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Bologna
Goalkeepers
Federico Ravaglia 
SIEVE
25%
Save %
25%
Save %
3
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
João Mário 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Torbjørn Heggem 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Jhon Lucumí 
MAGNET
89
Activity
89
Activity
81
Passes
8
Duels
Juan Miranda 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
40%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Lewis Ferguson 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Remo Freuler
MAGNET
82
Activity
82
Activity
73
Passes
9
Duels
Tommaso Pobega
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Forwards
Federico Bernardeschi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Santiago Castro
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Jonathan Rowe 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
9.3
Rating
BENCH
Massimo Pessina 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matteo Franceschelli
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Nadir Zortea
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolò Casale
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nikola Moro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Simon Sohm
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Riccardo Orsolini
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jens Odgaard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Francesco Castaldo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolò Cambiaghi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martínez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Matty Cash
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ezri Konsa 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Pau Torres 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Lucas Digne
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
45%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Amadou Onana
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Youri Tielemans
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
2
Assists
39%
Pass Acc
John McGinn
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Morgan Rogers 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Emiliano Buendía
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Ollie Watkins
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.2
Rating
BENCH
James Wright
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Marco Bizot
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Andrés García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ian Maatsen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
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
Douglas Luiz
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
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tammy Abraham
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Bailey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
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
Bologna Win
Aston Villa Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Villa's Clinical Raid Stuns Dall'Ara
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 84/100. A ruthless display of counter-attacking efficiency gives the English side a commanding first-leg advantage in this crucial quarter-final tie.
Opening Act
The Stakes were palpable at Renato Dall'Ara as Bologna sought to leverage their home turf in this high-pressure quarter-final clash. The hosts settled quickly, earning the right to dictate play. They controlled possession, methodically circulating the ball and restricting the visitors' space through the middle. Despite probing with real tactical intent and feeding dangerous balls wide, they struggled to unlock a disciplined defensive unit. It felt like a tense game of chess until the dying embers of the first half. Just when the Italians looked poised to head down the tunnel on level terms, their focus slipped. In the 44th minute, Y. Tielemans found a pocket of space and delivered a devastatingly precise ball. E. Konsa rose to the occasion, guiding it into the net to snatch the momentum completely.
The Pivot
Any hopes of a cautious, methodical second half evaporated the moment the teams emerged from the break. The Intensity surged immediately as Aston Villa sensed vulnerability in the Italian ranks. Merely six minutes after the restart, the visitors struck again. An incisive, perfectly weighted pass from E. Buendia totally unpicked the high defensive line, sending O. Watkins clean through to slot home their second goal. Stunned by the double blow, Bologna abandoned caution and poured bodies forward in waves. The match quickly devolved into an open shootout, contributing heavily to a staggering 27 combined shots on the night. The hosts bombarded the English penalty area with crosses and late runs, but the visitors absorbed the pressure with grim determination, constantly daring the Italians to leave themselves fatally exposed on the counter-attack.
Resolution
The emotional Balance of this two-legged tie swung wildly during a chaotic stoppage-time finale. As the clock hit 90 minutes, the relentless pressure finally paid dividends. J. Rowe capitalized on a scramble, expertly converting a feed from J. Lucumi to halve the deficit and reignite the raucous home crowd. Hope returned to the Dall'Ara terraces, but it was brutally short-lived. In the 94th minute, as the hosts pushed recklessly for an equalizer, Tielemans orchestrated one final break. He found Watkins in stride, and the forward’s ruthless finish secured his heroic brace while delivering a devastating sucker punch. The referee's final whistle confirmed a 3-1 away victory. Now, advancing to the semi-finals will require nothing short of a miracle from Bologna when these two squads clash again in England on April 16.
Key Questions
What made Jonathan Rowe the Man of the Match?
Despite the loss, his relentless attacking drive yielded a brilliant 90th-minute goal and multiple key passes, keeping the hosts fighting until the bitter end.
What does this mean for Bologna's season?
Down 3-1, they must overcome a massive deficit in the April 16 return leg to keep their European trophy dreams alive.
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.
A Quarter-Final Clash of Contrasting Styles
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 97/100. Aston Villa's relentless winning streak crashes into Bologna's rock-solid defensive wall in a first-leg encounter that will define both clubs' European campaigns.
The Setup
Aston Villa arrive for this April 09, 2026 fixture boasting a flawless Form trajectory, riding a five-match winning streak. Unai Emery's men have been ruthless away-day specialists, conquering opponents on the road with an 80% win rate. But the Balance of this quarter-final tie is incredibly tight. Bologna are unbeaten in their last five and possess a formidable defensive unit conceding less than a goal per game. With the Stakes astronomical in this first leg, taking an advantage into the return fixture on April 16 is paramount. The pitch will be flooded with top-tier Stars, including a fascinating duel between the posts featuring Łukasz Skorupski and Marco Bizot.
Key Battle
The defining tactical war pitches Jonathan Rowe against Tyrone Mings. Rowe has been terrorizing defences out wide, demanding constant attention. Mings, serving as the physical anchor for the visiting back line, cannot afford a single lapse in concentration. If Rowe manages to exploit the pockets of space behind the defence, the Italian outfit can secure a crucial first-leg advantage.
Our Prediction
Expect a fiercely contested stalemate. Bologna will sit deep, absorb pressure, and attempt to strike on the counter, but the visitors' momentum is difficult to completely halt. A cagey 1-1 draw seems inevitable, leaving the tie wide open for the second leg in England.