Unai Emery has selected his team to face Bologna in the Europa League this evening
18:48, 16 Apr 2026Updated 19:02, 16 Apr 2026
Emi Martinez of Aston Villa(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has named his starting XI to face Bologna for the club’s Europa League quarter-final second leg this evening.
He has made three changes from the side that draw 1-1 with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League League last Sunday.
Emi Martinez starts in goal, behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne.
Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans will operate in a double pivot, while John McGinn, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers support striker Ollie Watkins.
Villa have a two-goal lead on Bologna for this evening’s second leg after winning 3-1 win Italy last week.
Ollie Watkins scored twice in the second half following Ezri Konsa’s opener before the break. Jonathan Rowe had momentarily reduced Bologna’s deficit before Watkins bagged his second of the night in the closing moments of the game.
Villa have won 15 of their last 17 home major European matches, winning their last eight in a row.
They’ve won five of their last six in the knockout stages at Villa Park, losing 4-2 to Olympiacos in the other in May 2024 in the Conference League.
Villa starting XI vs Bologna: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Bailey, Bogarde.
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