Italiano: ‘Bologna climbed a mountain, now underdogs with Aston Villa too’ | OneFootball

Vincenzo Italiano insists Roma ‘are superior in every way, but Bologna climbed a mountain’ to set up a Europa League quarter-final clash with Aston Villa. ‘We’ll be the underdogs there too.’

The Rossoblu will face Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final, and go in as underdogs, but that was also the case in this all-Italian derby with Roma.

“We have already faced Aston Villa on their turf twice, so we go in again knowing that we are the underdogs, but we’ll prepare something and try to do something else extraordinary,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.

The first leg will be at the Stadio Dall’Ara on April 9, with the decider at Villa Park a week later.

Italiano hails Bologna coup in Eternal City

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, and Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, pose for a photo prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“You saw the atmosphere in the stadium from the start, we were against a strong side and I said our odds were 49-51 to go through, but we managed to turn them around and continue in an important European competition.

“The match was wonderful, we are truly happy to come here and do what we did, which was climb the mountain. I can only congratulate the lads for an extraordinary performance, as winning in this atmosphere against this Roma side was a genuine achievement.”

They were never behind in this tie at any point, conceding the equaliser for a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Stadio Dall’Ara, then going in front here too with Jonathan Rowe’s scorcher.

Bologna were even 3-1 up at the Stadio Olimpico through Federico Bernardeschi’s penalty and Santiago Castro, only to fumble it for 3-3 and go into extra time.

Here too, fresh legs were decisive with Nicolò Cambiaghi off the bench to squeeze in the finish from the tightest of angles.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“We struggled in the first 20 minutes to keep the pressure on Roma, but then we started to take hold in their half and begin to do more of what we had prepared,” continued Italiano.

“Once you get into extra time, it’s first goal wins, and we managed to get the goal.”

The Stadio Olimpico is confirmed as a positive venue for Bologna, who already had wild celebrations here last year when beating Milan in the Coppa Italia Final to lift their first piece of silverware for 51 years.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Nikola Moro of Bologna celebrates after the team’s victory in the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Italiano clearly also has a special affinity with Cup competitions, as he also took Fiorentina to two Conference League Finals and a Coppa Italia Final before coming to Bologna.

“I just try to honour each competition in the best possible way, have the right spirit, preparation, and utmost effort. It’s not a very long path in these tournaments, so you try to find strategies to cause problems for opponents, even if they are of a higher quality on paper.

“We got through a tough league phase, won a difficult play-off, and today beat a team that is superior to us in every way. However, playing your cards in the best way brings you to these results.”

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Players of Bologna pose for a photo as they celebrate after the team’s victory in the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Bologna players are still celebrating under the section of away supporters in the stands while Italiano is giving his interviews.

“I had to rush back and leave the lads during their celebration, because since I had that pneumonia, the doctor wants me to immediately get back where it’s warm and wrap up,” smiled Italiano.

The coach spent some of the season having to direct his team’s training sessions remotely, as he was hospitalised for a week with pneumonia.