Bologna vs Aston Villa: Italiano Outlines Strategy and Lineup for Europa League Clash

Aston Villa and Bologna are set to face each other in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on April 16, 2026. Aston Villa enters the match at Villa Park holding a 3-1 advantage following their victory on Italian soil in the first leg.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 UTC. Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete against the English side, despite the deficit.

Bologna Squad Updates and Selection

Bologna faces significant personnel challenges heading into the second leg. Federico Ravaglia will start in goal, as Lukasz Skorupski is currently unavailable due to injury.

The team’s injury list also includes Thijs Dallinga, Charalampos Lykogiannis and Benjamin Dominguez. Martin Vitik is suspended for the fixture.

In the attacking third, Vincenzo Italiano has opted for Santiago Castro as the sole centre-forward. He will be supported by Jonathan Rowe and Federico Bernardeschi, who are preferred over Riccardo Orsolini and Niccolò Cambiaghi.

Aston Villa Personnel and Predicted Lineup

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is dealing with several doubts regarding his starting XI. Emi Martinez is a concern after withdrawing shortly before a Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on April 13, 2026, leaving Marco Bizot as a potential replacement.

Other absences and doubts for the Villa squad include:

• Boubacar Kamara: Sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.
• Ross Barkley: Ineligible for selection due to his omission from the UEFA squad list.
• Jadon Sancho: A major doubt after missing the matchday squad on April 13, 2026.
• Tyrone Mings: Struggling to return from a knock.

On a positive note, winter signing Alysson has returned to team training. With Barkley unavailable, Emery may utilize Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey, or Emi Buendia in the midfield.

The predicted starting lineup for Aston Villa is Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins.

Historical Context and Competition Stakes

This encounter marks the third time these two clubs have met recently. Aston Villa previously won 2-0 in the Champions League in October 2024 and 1-0 in the Europa League opening phase in September 2025. Both of those matches were played at Villa Park.

Bologna’s journey to the quarter-finals included a victory over Roma in the Round of 16, where they progressed after a 1-1 first leg draw and a 4-3 win in extra time at the Stadio Olimpico.

For Aston Villa, the stakes extend beyond the Europa League. The club currently sits fourth in the Premier League, one point behind Manchester United and five points ahead of Liverpool, keeping them on track for Champions League qualification.

Individual milestones are also at play, as captain John McGinn and striker Ollie Watkins both require one more goal to become Aston Villa’s all-time top scorers in European competition.