Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa: Watkins brace ends hosts’ unbeaten home run in Europe | OneFootball

Aston Villa ended Bologna’s run of 20 homes games unbeaten in Europe courtesy of a convincing 3-1 win in their Europa League quarter final first leg.

Ollie Watkins scored twice for the visitors either side of a Jonathan Rowe pearler, with Ezri Konsa also on the scoresheet as the visitors inflicted an eighth Stadio Dell’Ara defeat of 2026 on I Felseini.

I Rossoblu had avoided defeat in their last 11 European encounters, a club record, before this evening’s game, after losing to Villa on matchday one.

As it happened

And the hosts started brightly, with Rowe in particular tormenting Unai Emery’s men as they struggled to keep the ball in midfield.

Their dominance was almost rewarded on 21 minutes, with Emiliano Martinez forced to deal with a scuffed Juan Miranda volley after Villa wasted a good free kick opportunity.

The Villans were again fortunate not to concede five minutes later, after Santiago Castro’s deflected effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Just three minutes after that Bologna had ANOTHER glorious chance through Lewis Ferguson, but the ex-Aberdeen dynamo saw his attempt clatter against the bar.

Despite the Bolognese threat Villa had their moments, John McGinn flashing a long-range attempt just wide after the half hour following incisive passing play.

And Ezri Konsa headed the Midlanders into an unlikely lead on the stroke of half time, as backup Bologna keeper Federico Ravaglia made a complete hash of dealing with Youri Tielemans’ corner,

The Emiliano-Romagnoli started the second half as they began the first, Tommaso Pobega firing over after catching Villa on the break as Vincenzo Italiano’s charges looked to draw level.

But any momentum they may have otherwise built up was dashed by Ollie Watkins seconds later, the ex-Brentford man making it 2-0 with his third in five games following Ferguson’s dire defensive error.

From there Villa exerted a stranglehold on the tie, as Watkins fired narrowly over five minutes later with a fizzing attempt from distance and Morgan Rogers had a tame effort saved in the final quarter.

Bologna had chances to reduce the deficit, with livewire Rowe firing wide after the hour mark then having another sumptuous effort tipped over in the last ten minutes.

And the ex-Norwich winger finally got the goal his performance deserved in the dying embers with a beautiful curling effort, his six in six Europa League games.

Just when it looked like Bologna had hope, however, Watkins netted his second with the simplest of finishes from another Tielemans corner following poor defending from the home side.

Truth be told the Birmingham outfit can count themselves fortunate to have a two goal lead given their first half display, as Watkins himself noted in his post-match interview.

But the 1982 European Cup winners won’t care. So far as Emery and his players are concerned it is a case of job done, and with six goals now hit past the Italians in three matches they will be full of confidence heading into the second leg at Villa Park.