Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna (7-1 agg): Watkins 16, Buendia 26, Rogers 39, Konsa 89
Aston Villa secured their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a ruthless first-half demolition of Bologna, eventually winning 4-0 on the night and 7-1 on aggregate.
Three first-half goals made the entire second half only a formality for Unai Emery’s side, who now play in the semi-final, and the boss will certainly be eyeing yet another Europa League final, a speciality of his.
Ollie Watkins opened the scoring with just over quarter of an hour played, tapping in from close range after an excellent team move that allowed Morgan Rogers to drive to the byline and pull the ball across the six-yard box. The goal was Watkins’ 100th for Aston Villa and his 10th in European competition this season, a new club record.
Villa were awarded a penalty 10 minutes later when the ball struck an unlucky Martin Vitik on the arm following Rogers’ header. A lengthy VAR review condemned the defender and Rogers stepped up but saw his low spot-kick saved by Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia. The Bologna support would have called it justice.
But there was little reprieve for the visiting side as Lucas Digne took the resulting throw-in and found Emiliano Buendia on the left byline. Buendia cut inside and fired past Ravaglia inside the near post, the goalkeeper failing to secure his near post just 46 seconds after saving Rogers’ penalty.
Rogers made amends for his miss with six minutes left in the first period. John McGinn found the midfielder in space on the left, and he drove into the box before smashing yet another shot past Ravaglia at his near post. It was Rogers’ first goal since 7 February and his celebration showed his relief.
The second half was a nonevent with the tie already 6-1 on aggregate. Villa controlled the game before Ezri Konsa added a fourth with a minute left in normal time. Tammy Abraham headed on a corner, and the defender turned and volleyed home from close range.
