John Townley’s Aston Villa player ratings after Unai Emery’s side win in Bologna in the Europa League
21:56, 09 Apr 2026Updated 22:05, 09 Apr 2026
Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa celebrates scoring a goal after making the score 0-1.
Aston Villa will take a two-goal lead back to Birmingham for their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bologna after a 3-1 win in Italy.
Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the first half, before Ollie Watkins punished Bologna after the break. Jonathan Rowe, who was the best player on the pitch, halved the Italian club’s deficit late on, but Watkins popped up with his second to restore a crucial two-goal lead.
Villa have now won 14 of their last 16 European matches, including their last eight in a row – the longest winning streak in the club’s history.
Unai Emery’s side started slowly and were fortunate not to fall behind in the first 30 minutes of the tie. Bologna had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR after Johnathan Rowe beat Matty Cash to the ball and played it to Santiago Castro, whose cross was then deflected over the line off Konsa.
Moments after the goal was disallowed, Rowe continued to cause problems down the left and pulled the ball across the box for Lewis Ferguson, but his effort at the near post crashed off the underside of the bar and away.
Earlier in the first half, in what was his first start for Villa since January 25, Youri Tielemans drifted a set-piece over the top of the Bologna backline towards Emi Buendia, but Watkins couldn’t quite make contact.
READ MORE: Aston Villa in pictures: 64 photographs of the match against Bologna
The Belgian midfielder would register his second assist of the Europa League campaign later in the first period, as his in-swinging corner was not dealt with by goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia, allowing Konsa to head in at the back post.
That goal changed the flow of the game, and Villa doubled their lead before the hour mark as Watkins capitalised on Torbjorn Heggem overplaying at the back, finishing well past Ravaglia from a tight angle.
Morgan Rogers came close to adding a third shortly after, firing an effort from distance that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Federico Bernardeschi was denied by the post in the 78th minute as Bologna pushed to halve their deficit, before Emi Martinez made a top save by tipping Rowe’s effort over the bar.
The Argentina number one was beaten by Rowe in the 90th minute, as the winger cut in from the left wing and curled the ball into the far corner.
Watkins then doubled his tally on the night, bundling the ball in from a corner in the final moments of the second half.
Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins
Player ratings
Emi Martinez
Martinez made his first save in the 22nd minute, denying left-back Juan Miranda. He was helpless when Bologna thought they had scored via what would have been a Konsa own goal, before it was disallowed, and then Ferguson hit the bar. Made a top save to prevent Rowe scoring a belter, before then being beaten. 7
Matty Cash
Cash struggled in the first half and was twice beaten to the ball by Rowe. The second time led to what Bologna thought was their opening goal of the night. He changed his boots at half-time. 5
Ezri Konsa
Konsa would have been especially relieved to see Bologna’s goal ruled out for offside after Castro’s cross went over the line via a deflection off him, before he bagged a goal at the other end just before half-time. It was a big goal in the context of the tie. 8
Pau Torres
Torres never rushed a pass or looked flustered when Bologna’s attackers pressed him aggressively. 7
Lucas Digne
Digne was picked to start ahead of Ian Maatsen, possibly because of his experience more than anything else. He was a comfortable and reassuring presence in defence tonight. 7
Amadou Onana
Onana covered ground well and put his body on the line when needed. Another encouraging performance from him. 7
Youri Tielemans
Tielemans started his first game since the win over Newcastle on January 25 and created Villa’s best opportunity of the first half. He drifted a lovely ball over the Bologna backline from a free-kick, but Watkins couldn’t quite reach it. It was his cross that Konsa headed in to give Villa the lead. He oozed class in midfield. 7
John McGinn
McGinn had little influence in the first half, so he took it upon himself to have a shot as the game approached half-time. His effort arrowed narrowly wide of the near post. 6
Morgan Rogers
Rogers started slowly, making just three passes in 38 minutes. He improved in the second half and came close to scoring, lifting the ball just over the bar from distance in an attempt to add a third for Villa. 5
Emi Buendia
Buendia made his eighth European start tonight and got Lucumi booked early in the first half after skipping past the defender. Assisted Watkins’ goal. Failed to hit the target with a few efforts outside the box in the second half. 6
Ollie Watkins
At the double! He couldn’t get on the end of Tielemans’ ball over the top from a set-piece in the first half, but he finished neatly to double the lead early in the second half. His all-round game was solid this evening, and he restored Villa’s two-goal lead in the tie. 8*
SUBS
Lamare Bogarde (for Onana, 80′): N/A
Leon Bailey (for Buendia, 88′): N/A
Ian Maatsen (for Rogers, 88′): N/A
Subs not used: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Luiz.
GOALS
Bologna: Rowe (90′)
Aston Villa: Konsa (44′), Watkins (51′, 90+4′)
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