Europa League

2026-04-16 - Aston Villa vs Bologna

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Aston Villa v Bologna
Football: UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg
Thursday 16th April 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Aston Villa

A tough battle at the City Ground ended in a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa and that could be the first of two visits to that ground this month. The second could come in the Europa League Semi Final if both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest can earn positive home results this week after returning from the First Leg in strong positions.

Out of the two English Premier League clubs, Aston Villa are going to feel like they have broken the back of the Quarter Final tie after winning 1-3 in Italy last Thursday. They are balancing responsibilities in two competitions, but Aston Villa have maintained momentum and will be confident of securing their place in the final four having won all 5 games at Villa Park in the Europa League up to this stage of the competition.

Aston Villa have lost 1 of the last 6 games in all competitions after the draw at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while they have won 4 times in that run. They had been struggling for consistency at Villa Park, but consecutive 2-0 wins over Lille and West Ham United will have the entire squad feeling confident going into the final seven weeks of the season.

Emi Martinez had to withdraw during the warm up for the fixture at the City Ground and is considered a doubt. Some changes will be made to keep the squad as fresh as possible, but the overall health is very positive for Unai Emery's selection choices.

Bologna

Games are running out domestically for Bologna in the bid to earn a return to European Football for next season, while the second route into the Champions League looks to be closing after the heavy defeat in the First Leg of this tie. Recent visits to Villa Park will not be offering too much confidence for this Bologna team, but they have to still believe that things can change if they can score first in the Second Leg.

Results during this Europa League run have been most impressive away from home and Bologna have only been beaten in 1 of the 6 fixtures played on their travels. They overcame a poor home result in the First Leg of the Last 16 tie against domestic rivals Roma to win in the Stadio Olimpico, albeit after Extra Time, while Bologna won at Brann in the Knock Out Play Off Round in February.

Bologna have won half of the last 6 games played in all competitions and bounced back from the Quarter Final First Leg defeat to Aston Villa by beating Lecce at home. Not only do they arrive in the West Midlands of England unbeaten in 7 away games in all competitions, but Bologna have won 6 of those in normal time and earned 4 clean sheets.

A number of changes were made for the Serie A win over Lecce as Vincenzo Italiano kept one eye on this Second Leg.

Head to Head

These two clubs are somewhat familiar with one another.

They have met in the League Phase of the Champions League in 2024/25 and Europa League earlier this season with Aston Villa hosting and winning both of those games.

With the win in Bologna last week, Aston Villa have now played 3 and won 3 against this opponent.

Prediction

The Chelsea defeat on Sunday afternoon has given Aston Villa a real advantage in the race to finish in the top five of the English Premier League and earn a return to the Champions League.

That advantage will ease some of the pressure on the squad and Unai Emery can continue making sure he is picking strong teams in the Europa League where Aston Villa are favourites to lift the trophy in May.

The 1-3 win in Italy last week has put Aston Villa in a really strong spot ahead of this Second Leg, but the manager's experience will be passed onto the squad and Emery will want to see Aston Villa maintain that grip. Unai Emery will be aware that this Bologna team have been much stronger on their travels in the Europa League and overall in recent weeks, and he will be urging his players to not give the away team anything to gain confidence from.

Scoring first has to be the challenge for the Bologna players with the away goals rule no longer a factor and 6 wins in 7 away games in all competitions will give them confidence. They were leading 1-3 at Roma in the Last 16 Second Leg before being pegged back and forced into Extra Time, but the position they got into during that Second Leg will still give the players real belief.

Over the last eighteen months, Bologna have visited Aston Villa twice and been beaten both times without scoring a goal.

Those results will certainly play a part in how this Second Leg develops and Aston Villa have shown they have enough quality to win games here in European competition. A healthy squad also helps, even if Emi Martinez is unavailable, and Aston Villa will counter Bologna's away record by showing they have played 5 at Villa Park in the Europa League and won all of those fixtures.

The experience of Unai Emery should also help Aston Villa avoid any unnecessary drama in this Quarter Final tie and the home team may end up exploiting gaps as Bologna perhaps begin to take risks.

That was the case in the 2-0 win over Lille in the Last 16 and Aston Villa can be backed to win a fixture featuring at least two home goals.