Aston Villa vs Bologna: Europa League lineups, team news, confirmed starting teams with Watkins on bench

Aston Villa start their 2025/26 Europa League campaign at home to Coppa Italia holders Bologna on Thursday.

The Villans missed out on Champions League qualification on goal difference last season but have not won any of their first five Premier League games this time around.

Bologna’s comeback win over Genoa on Saturday gave Vincenzo Italiano’s side two wins from two home games in the new Serie A campaign but they have lost both of their away games 1-0, at Roma and Milan.

You can follow 101GreatGoals.com’s live text updates from Aston Villa vs Bologna. Read on for the lineups and confirmed starting teams in the Europa League, as well as TV and streaming details.

Aston Villa vs Bologna – Europa League Free Bets, Tips & Predictions

Aston Villa starting lineup vs Bologna

Midfielders Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and Youri Tielemans and wideman Andres Garcia remain out for Villa through injury but defender Victor Lindelof is on the bench again, having returned from an issue in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Sunday.

Morgan Rogers was Villa’s top scorer on their run to the Champions League quarter-finals last season, contributing four goals and three assists in 12 appearances. England striker Ollie Watkins is on the bench.

Aston Villa starting XI: Marco Bizot, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, Evann Guessand, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Buendia, Donyell Malen

Aston Villa substitutes: Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings, Harvey Elliott, Ollie Watkins, Lucas Digne, Andres García, Jadon Sancho, Lamare Bogarde, Sam Proctor, Bradley Burrowes, Rhys Oakley

Bologna starting lineup vs Aston Villa

Ciro Immobile was the joint-top scorer in the 2017/18 Europa League for Lazio but Bologna’s new signing is out with a hamstring injury.

Tommaso Pobega also has a hamstring problem and fellow midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana sustained a knee injury while representing Ghana earlier this month.

Italy forward Riccardo Orsolini, who is on the bench, sealed the win over Genoa with a 99th-minute penalty.

Bologna starting XI: Lukasz Skorupski, Nadir Zortea, Martin Vitík, Jhon Lucumí, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Lewis Ferguson, Remo Freuler, Jens Odgaard, Federico Bernardeschi, Santiago Castro, Nicolo Cambiaghi

Bologna substitutes: Emil Holm, Nikola Moro, Riccardo Orsolini, Jonathan Rowe, Federico Ravaglia, Torbjorn Heggem, Thijs Dallinga, Massimo Pessina, Juan Miranda, Giovanni Fabbian

How to watch Villa vs Bologna: TV channel, live stream

Kick-off on Thursday is at 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT, with live coverage in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate and streaming on the accompanying discovery+ app.

TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through discovery+, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.