Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa: Report, result and goals as Emery’s men take command of quarter-final

Aston Villa produced a superb away performance to take command of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Bologna as they claimed a 3-1 victory at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara thanks to an Ollie Watkins double.

Villa were on the back foot for much of the first half in Emilia-Romagna, and appeared to have fallen 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 heading them in front shortly before half-time after Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia misjudged a corner.

Excellent pressing from Emi Buendia then allowed Watkins to make it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half.

Yet the hosts continued to push, and the goal they deserved finally arrived in the closing minutes through Jonathan Rowe’s curling effort.

That looked to have changed the complexion of the tie significantly heading into next week’s return leg at Villa Park, but Bologna were punished for poor defending at a corner in the final seconds, with Watkins tapping home his second to put Unai Emery’s men in the box seat to progress to the last four.

Konsa gives Aston Villa lead after Bologna frustration

Emi Martinez was busy throughout the contest and it was only his reflexes that prevented Juan Miranda from turning home Federico Bernardeschi’s cross in acrobatic fashion in the 21st minute.

Five minutes later Martinez was helpless as Castro’s deflected effort left him stranded as it spun narrowly over the line, only for the VAR check to turn Bologna celebrations into widespread frustration among the home crowd.

Lewis Ferguson then turned against the underside of the crossbar from Rowe’s left-wing cross, before John McGinn threatened at the other end with a long-range effort.

For all Bologna’s first-half dominance, it was a rare spell of Villa pressure that ultimately broke the deadlock as the returning Youri Tielemans produced an excellent corner delivery that Ravaglia flapped at, enabling Konsa to nod home.

Watkins at the double in dramatic finish

Bologna started the second half brightly and Tommaso Pobega fired over as they sought an equaliser, yet the feeling of injustice that was clear after Villa’s opener was furthered as the visitors doubled their advantage.

Buendia’s endeavour was rewarded as he robbed Ferguson of possession deep in the Bologna half, teeing up Watkins to slot through the legs of Ravaglia.

Bernardeschi hit the near post in another agonising moment for the hosts, who then saw Rowe thwarted by a brilliant save from Martinez.

The former Norwich City winger looked to have given Bologna that reason for optimism going into the second leg when he cut in from the left and produced a 90th-minute strike to which Martinez was unequal.

But there was a cruel twist in the tale for Bologna as they failed to properly defend another Tielemans’ corner, giving Watkins the simplest of finishes to restore a two-goal advantage for Villa that should ultimately prove decisive.