Europa League QF line-ups: Bologna vs. Aston Villa
Bologna look to Santiago Castro, Jonathan Rowe and Federico Bernardeschi in the Europa League quarter-final against Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
Vincenzo Italiano’s side were the surprise victors in the all-Italian derby in the Round of 16, eliminating Roma after a 1-1 first leg draw and 4-3 win in extra time at the Stadio Olimpico.
Martin Vitik is suspended for the first leg, with Lukasz Skorupski, Thijs Dallinga, Charalampos Lykogiannis and Benjamin Dominguez injured.
Federico Ravaglia therefore has to go in goal, with Castro the only centre-forward, but Bernardeschi and Rowe are preferred to Riccardo Orsolini and Niccolò Cambiaghi.
These teams have met twice before very recently, with Aston Villa winning 2-0 in the Champions League in October 2024, then 1-0 back in September 2025 as part of the Europa League opening phase.
Both those games were at Villa Park, so this is the first time they’ve faced off on Italian soil.
That 1-0 loss in September is also the only defeat Bologna suffered in the Europa League this season, along with four draws and seven victories.
Aston Villa currently sit fourth in the Premier League, one point behind Manchester United and five ahead of Liverpool, so are on track to qualify for the Champions League.
They eliminated Lille in the Round of 16 of the Europa League, 3-0 on aggregate, and won every game in the tournament this season except for a 2-1 loss away to Go Ahead Eagles on October 23.
Boubacar Kamara and Jadon Sancho are the only injury absentees for coach Unai Emery, who is a real specialist in this competition, winning the Europa League a record four times.
Their squad includes Argentina hero goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, ex-Roma full-back Lucas Digne, former Milan and Roma striker Tammy Abraham, Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus and Roma flop Leon Bailey.
Bologna vs. Aston Villa line-ups
Bologna: Ravaglia; Joao Mario, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe
Bologna bench: Pessina, Franceschelli, Moro, Orsolini, Casale, Zortea, Odgaard, Sohm, Cambiaghi, Castaldo
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Onana, Buendia; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins
Aston Villa bench: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Elliott, Andres Garcia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey
Ref: Schärer (SUI)