Aston Villa produced an impressive away performance to take control of their Europa League quarter-final clash with Bologna as they ran out 3-1 winners at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara thanks to an Ollie Watkins double.
Villa were behind in the first half in Emilia-Romagna, and looked set to fall behind when Ezri Konsa deflected Santiago Castro’s effort over the line.
But Villa were saved by the offside flag and made the most of that reprieve, Konsa putting them ahead just before the break after Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia had mishandled a corner.
Excellent pressure from Emi Buendia then allowed Watkins to make it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half.
However, the athletes continued to push, and the goal they deserved finally arrived in the last minutes with Jonathan Rowe’s efforts to bend.
That looked set to change the complexion of football heading into next week’s second leg at Villa Park, but Bologna were punished for poor defending from a corner in the final seconds, with Watkins scoring a second to put Unai Emery’s men on course for a place in the last four.
Konsa gives Aston Villa the lead after Bologna’s frustration
Emi Martinez was busy throughout the contest and only his brilliance prevented Juan Miranda from turning home Federico Bernardeschi’s acrobatic cross in the 21st minute.
Five minutes later Martinez could do nothing as Castro’s effort deflected off the line leaving him stunned as it rounded the line, only for a VAR check to turn Bologna’s celebrations into widespread frustration among the home crowd.
Lewis Ferguson then turned under the crossbar from Rowe on the left wing, before John McGinn threatened at the other end with a long-range effort.
For all of Bologna’s dominance in the first half, it was a rare moment of Villa pressure that finally broke the deadlock as the returning Youri Tielemans produced a superb corner which Ravaglia headed home, allowing Konsa to head home.
Watkins in an amazing finish
Bologna started the second half brightly and Tommaso Pobega fired high in search of an equaliser, however the sense of injustice that was evident after Villa’s opener continued as the visitors doubled their advantage.
Buendia’s effort was rewarded as he dispossessed Ferguson deep in the Bologna half, teeing up Watkins to slot past Ravaglia’s legs.
Bernardeschi hit the near post in a painful moment for the hosts, which then saw Rowe thwarted by a fine save from Martinez.
The former Norwich City midfielder looked to have given Bologna that reason to hope going into the second leg when he cut in from the left and produced a strike in the 90th minute that Martinez missed.
But there was a cruel twist to Bologna’s story as they failed to defend another Tielemans corner, giving Watkins an easy finish to restore Villa’s two-goal advantage that should ultimately prove decisive.
