UEL | Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa: Unlucky Rossoblu crumble in quarter final | OneFootball

Bologna were unlucky in attack and paid a heavy price for defensive errors, suffering a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final.

The Rossoblu eliminated Roma in the all-Italian derby and went into this match without suspended Martin Vitik, plus injured Lukasz Skorupski, Thijs Dallinga, Charalampos Lykogiannis and Benjamin Dominguez.

Unai Emery won the Europa League four times as coach and made this trip without Jadon Sancho and Boubacar Kamara, so Youri Tielemans got his first start since January 25. Villa had won every game except one in the competition and already beat Bologna 1-0 in September, but that was the last Rossoblu defeat in this tournament.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 09: The teams line up prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Bologna FC 1909 and Aston Villa FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 09, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Ollie Watkins didn’t get full control of a smart Youri Tielemans ball over the top, while Jhon Lucumi was booked early on and will be suspended for the second leg.

Bologna had a big double chance when first the Santiago Castro angled drive was charged down by Pau Torres, then Emiliano Martinez fingertipped the acrobatic Juan Miranda follow-up out from under the bar.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 09: Santiago Castro of Bologna has a shot blocked by Pau Torres of Aston Villa during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Bologna FC 1909 and Aston Villa FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 09, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The hosts had the ball in the net on 26 minutes when Castro’s effort took a deflection off Ezri Konsa and was cleared by Matty Cash only after already crossing the line. However, it was disallowed by VAR as Castro’s toe was offside on the Jonathan Rowe pass.

Bologna were unlucky again moments later, this time Lewis Ferguson at full stretch poked a Rowe cross onto the underside of the crossbar.

John McGinn drilled inches wide, and Aston Villa took the lead against the run of play just before half-time. Federico Ravaglia flapped at a Youri Tielemans corner, as Konsa held off Lucumi to nod in at the back post.

Straight after the restart, Rowe ran from his own half and pulled back for Tommaso Pobega to fire just over from the edge of the area.

However, Bologna made another costly and avoidable error, this time Torbjorn Heggem struggling to control an overhit Miranda pass out from the back, so Buendia intercepted, allowing Watkins to place the angled drive under Ravaglia.

Incredibly, the hosts hit the frame of the goal for a second time, as Rowe set up Bernardeschi to fire against the outside of the near post.

Moments later, Dibu Martinez flew for a sensational fingertip save to push the Rowe curler out from under the bar.

Joao Mario also had an effort charged down, as did Rowe, but Bologna finally got the goal they deserved when Rowe cut inside from the left and bent a ferocious right-foot finish past Martinez.

However, just as they had hope, Watkins was left totally unmarked to tap in a flicked-on corner from five yards and restore Villa’s two-goal cushion.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 09: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Bologna FC 1909 and Aston Villa FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 09, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa

Konsa 44 (A), Watkins 51, 93 (A), Rowe 90 (B)