Unai Emery has stressed that Aston Villa approaches their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bologna with profound respect, despite holding a significant 3-1 lead from the first match. The manager firmly believes that the tie is far from over.
The return fixture is scheduled to take place at Villa Park in Birmingham, kicking off at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST).
Aston Villa appears to be in a strong position to advance to the Europa League semi-finals following their convincing 3-1 away victory. Notably, Villa has a strong recent record against Bologna, having defeated them in all three encounters over the past 18 months across various European competitions.
Emery Praises Bologna’s Capabilities
“We hold them in very high regard because they have demonstrated their potential to compete for this title and go far in the competition, just as we aim to,” Emery stated in an interview with TNT Sports.
“While we secured a favourable result in the first leg, the task is not yet complete. Their style of play and current performance levels command our immense respect. I anticipate a difficult match today, and we must execute our game plan with the same intensity we showed in their stadium. Of course, playing here at home, with our passionate supporters creating a fantastic atmosphere, gives us confidence, but we remain incredibly respectful of our opponents.”
The squad faces some injury concerns, with Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, and Alisson currently unavailable. Emiliano Martinez is set to start despite a minor calf issue, while Jadon Sancho and Tyrone Mings are not yet at peak fitness. Consequently, Emery has opted to field the identical starting eleven that took to the field at the Stadio Dall’Ara last Thursday.
“We draw upon our European experiences. Two years ago, as we embarked on our debut in Europe in the Conference League, we reached the semi-finals here against Olympiacos. We remember vividly how we lost that semi-final, and also our quarter-final exit in the Champions League last year against PSG.”
“Every lesson learned throughout our journey serves as a reminder, driving us to be consistently demanding and focused on achieving our objectives. We anticipate a very challenging match tonight. This reflects the competitive environment we are building here. We are excited, motivated, and acutely aware of the importance of managing our emotions.”
Bologna’s coach, Vincenzo Italiano, has repeatedly identified Aston Villa as the favorites to win the Europa League this season.
“This competition offers a pathway to winning a trophy and securing a place in the Champions League. It is an incredibly difficult tournament to win. Today is the moment for us to seize, and we must enjoy it. I have won this trophy three times, and I understand the immense challenge involved,” emphasized the experienced Emery.
“Of course Champions League is the best gift we can achieve.”
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery on today’s tie with Bologna 👀📺 Stream with TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/rpRKOU1JqT
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026