Aston Villa Claims Key 3-1 Victory Over Bologna in Europa League Quarter-Finals
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery praised his team's performance after their 3-1 victory over Bologna in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. Despite a shaky start, where Bologna nearly scored through a disallowed goal by Santiago Castro and a shot that hit the crossbar from Lewis Ferguson, Villa managed to find their footing. Ezri Konsa put Villa ahead just before halftime, followed by a goal from Ollie Watkins that doubled their lead in the second half. Although Jonathan Rowe pulled one back for Bologna late in the match, Watkins sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal, restoring their two-goal advantage. Emery reflected on the game, stating, "Happy but getting balance in everything we played the first leg it is a fantastic result." He acknowledged that Villa's first-half performance was not up to par, saying, "We were a little bit shy...not brilliant." However, he commended the team's second-half efforts, noting their improved control of the game. Watkins, who reached a total of 12 goals this season, admitted that Villa had a bit of luck in the first half. He remarked, "They put us under a lot of pressure and were dominating the game. We got lucky... that goal at the end takes the sting out of the game." As they head into the second leg at Villa Park, Emery emphasized the need for caution against a dangerous Bologna side, while Watkins expressed excitement for the upcoming challenges, confident in Villa's position moving forward.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-04-09