Aston Villa Will Be Looking For A Third Successive Win Over Bologna
Stadio Renato Dall’Ara | Europa League QF 1st Leg | Thursday April 9 | 8pm
With the Europa League quarter-finals on the horizon, BetVictor News delivers the Bologna vs Aston Villa preview, prediction, team news, latest odds, betting angles and more ahead of Thursday’s clash.
Bologna Vs Aston Villa Preview
Aston Villa head to Italy this week to take on Bologna for the third time in two seasons. In their previous clashes – both on home soil – Villa recorded a 2-0 Champions League win in 2024-25 and a 1-0 Europa League league phase victory earlier this campaign.
Off the strength of those results, the Bologna vs Aston Villa odds slightly favour the Lions. Unai Emery’s side can be backed at 5/4 with the Rossoblu available at 2/1. This will be the first fixture the Premier League side have played since March 22. Although, Villa did play a friendly against Elche during the international break.
In Europe’s secondary club competition, Emery’s charges have won nine of their ten fixtures including both games against Lille in the R16. As it stands, Villa are the favourites in the Europa League outright winner betting market.
With that in mind, Bologna will need to be at their best to thwart the Lions over 180 minutes. If Vincenzo Italiano’s side can claim a positive result on Thursday, they will believe an upset can be caused in the return leg.
Heading into the game, the Serie A side will be brimming with confidence having knocked out league rivals Roma in the last 16. Similar to their more illustrious opponents, the 2024-25 Coppa Italia victors have lost just once in the UEL this term. That of course, came in Birmingham back in September.
Bologna Vs Aston Villa H2H Record
The Bologna vs Aston Villa H2H record is short but sweet – especially from Villa’s perspective. The only times they have faced off before are the two clashes over the last 18 months. John McGinn and Jhon Duran netted in the 2-0 Champions League win in October 2024.
Earlier this season, McGinn scored again as the Lions claimed a 1-0 league phase victory. BetVictor’s Bologna vs Aston Villa betting market has the club captain and Scottish international at 4/1 to score anytime and 9/1 to hit the opener.
- 25/09/2025 – Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna
- 22/10/2024 – Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna
Bologna Vs Aston Villa Team News
On the injury front, there’s good and bad news as far as Aston Villa are concerned. Youri Tielemans is pushing to start having recovered from an ankle injury. The Belgian came off the bench in the victory over West Ham on March 22.
Boubacar Kamara and Jadon Sancho will miss the trip to Italy. The latter injured his shoulder in the friendly against Elche on March 27. Ross Barkley will also be absent having been omitted from Villa’s European squad.
Meanwhile, Bologna will have to make do without the suspended Martin Vitik. Left-back Juan Miranda is available having served his ban and forward Riccardo Orsolini is likely to be utilised from the bench again.
Benjamin Dominguez, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Thijs Dallinga and Jens Odgaard are all injury doubts. Late calls are expected to be made on the quartet. England Under 21 hero Jonathan Rowe is set to start on the left side of attack. He famously scored the Young Lions winner in the European Championship final against Germany in the summer.
Bologna’s last six in all comps:
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Aston Villa’s last six in all comps:
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Bologna Vs Aston Villa Predicted Lineups
Bologna predicted lineup:
Ravaglia; Mario, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Freuler, Ferguson; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe
Aston Villa predicted lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins
Bologna Vs Aston Villa Betting Angles
Key Match Stats
- Aston Villa have won the previous two H2H encounters without conceding
- Both sides have only lost once in the Europa League this season
- Bologna haven’t progressed to a European semi-final since 1998-99
- This will be Aston Villa’s third UEFA quarter-final in as many seasons, they have now made the last eight in all three Euro competitions
Top Betting Angles for Bologna vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa to win: The 5/4 price offers value. Especially as Villa have won the last two H2H encounters and Bologna have lost two of their last three home games
Under 2.5 goals: Came in during the previous meetings. Tactical contrast is worth considering. Bologna will likely attack whereas Villa can hit on the counter (31/40)
Corners: Under 7.5 is worth considering with a tight and compact affair likely. Available at 19/10.
Bologna Vs Aston Villa Prediction
Unai Emery is the undoubted Europa League king having won the competition four times whereas his opposite number – Vincenzo Italiano – twice came runner-up in the Conference League. With that in mind, we expect the Aston Villa boss to be happy with taking a score draw back to Villa Park and getting the job done on home soil.
Bologna know just how difficult their task is having lost the last two H2H matches and their general struggles at home.
Prediction: Bologna 1-1 Aston Villa
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Any betting decisions should be made responsibly and there are no guarantees when it comes to match outcomes. All odds correct as of 2:20pm April 8, 2026.
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