Bologna v Aston Villa: Europa League quarter-final, first leg – live | Europa League
Key occasions
Antony T writes in. The references are, I’m afraid, misplaced on me.
I’m liking the omens right here. Renato Stadium? Well, Renato (RIP), of my native Mere Green Italian restaurant and chart topping Renee and Renato fame, was additionally a Villa fan!
It’s tenuous, so Save Your Love till after the match.
One for nobody beneath the age of fifty there!
Wave goodbye to the celebrities.
Another Liverpool nice is on the way in which out.
Youri Tielemans begins for Aston Villa for the first time since January. Jonathan Rowe, who started his profession at Norwich, traces up for Bologna. They’re captained by Scotland worldwide Lewis Ferguson.
The groups
Bologna: Ravaglia, João Mário, Heggem, Lucumí, Miranda, Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega, Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe
Subs: Pessina, Franceschelli, Moro, Orsolini, Casale, Zortea, Odgaard, Sohm, Cambiaghi, Castaldo
Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Onana, Tielemans, Buendía, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Lindelöf, Mings, Elliott, Andrés García, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey
If you do not need to hang around right here, Will Unwin’s protecting Porto in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
Remove the road.
The Renato Dall’Ara stadium is a basic instance of fascist structure, marked by the imposing Maratona Tower. Mussolini oversaw the ceremonial opening in 1926; it was his final go to to Bologna, as somebody tried to assassinate him within the metropolis later that day.
Preamble
Aston Villa are getting fairly used to European quarter-finals. This is their third on the bounce: they beat Lille within the Conference League two years in the past and fell simply quick in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain, the eventual champions, final April within the Champions League. Now it is time for the Europa, with a go to to Bologna. Unai Emery is in his ingredient.
Yes, that is the place the Spaniard actually turns it on; he is gained this trophy 4 occasions, greater than anybody else. Villa has already crushed Bologna this season and Emery has Youri Tielemans again after two months out with an ankle harm. Things have been a little bit ropey within the league however they’re fourth and in with a severe shot at a first main trophy in 30 years.
But there’s nonetheless loads to do. “Bologna is a profitable staff, it is a staff that within the final years are enjoying implausible and they’re profitable finals like final yr [in the Coppa Italia]”Emery warned yesterday. Vincenzo Italiano, their head coach, reached successive Conference League finals with Fiorentina and – forget Villa’s drought – he ended Bologna’s 51-year trophy waiting in 2025. Another party in the Piazza Maggiore is still in reach. The first leg kicks off at 8pm BST.
