Aston Villa enter the UEFA Europa League meeting with Bologna backed by strong home numbers and a clear edge from the first leg. The tie also brings a sharp contrast in European travel records, with Villa proving hard to beat at Villa Park and Bologna still searching for consistency away to English clubs.
Villa have won 10 of their first 11 Europa League matches this season, a run that matches the pace set by Chelsea and Villarreal in campaigns they both went on to win the competition. They have also won 15 of their last 17 home major European matches, including eight straight victories, underlining why the Premier League side carry momentum into this tie.
Aston Villa’s home record against Italian teams
Villa’s record at home against Italian opposition stands out in the wider history of European competition. They have kept five consecutive home clean sheets against Italian clubs in major European matches, and the last Italian player to score at Villa Park was Zbigniew Boniek for Juventus in a 2-1 European Cup win in March 1983.
That long defensive run matters again here because it places pressure on Bologna to break patterns that have held for decades. Villa have also won five of their last six knockout-stage matches at Villa Park, with the only defeat in that stretch coming against Olympiakos in the Conference League.
Bologna’s struggles in England
Bologna’s away history against English clubs has been difficult for a long time. Since a 3-1 win over West Brom in March 1967, they have lost all five of their away visits to England in European competition.
Those defeats came against Leeds in the Fairs Cup, Fulham in the Intertoto Cup, Liverpool in the Champions League, and Aston Villa twice across the Champions League and Europa League. That record gives Villa more than just home advantage; it also adds a strong historical trend in their favor.
Key numbers from the tie
| Stat | Aston Villa | Bologna |
|---|---|---|
| Home major European wins in last 17 | 15 | N/A |
| Home clean sheets vs Italian clubs | 5 straight | N/A |
| Europa League wins this season | 10 in 11 | N/A |
| Away wins in Europe this season | N/A | 5 straight |
| Away losses in England in Europe | N/A | 5 straight |
Bologna have, however, shown better form on the road in this season’s Europa League. Since losing 1-0 at Villa in September, they have won all five of their away matches in the competition, a run that suggests they can still compete strongly outside Italy.
That away streak is notable because the tournament’s record books are rare territory. Only Hamburger SV in 2008-09 and Porto in 2010-11 have ever won six away games in a single UEFA Cup or Europa League season, so Bologna can still reach an elite benchmark if they extend the run.
Head-to-head context and first-leg pressure
The first leg went firmly in Villa’s favor, with a 3-1 win that gives them control of the tie. Bologna have now conceded three goals in back-to-back Europa League matches, and the numbers show how difficult it has been for teams to recover after losing the home leg by two or more goals.
Only one team in 67 similar cases in the competition has managed to progress after losing the first leg at home by 2+ goals, with Sevilla producing the only comeback of that kind against Real Betis in the 2013-14 round of 16. That statistic leaves Bologna facing a steep challenge, even with their recent away form.
Players to watch
Ollie Watkins remains one of Villa’s main threats in Europe. He has scored nine goals in major European competition for the club and can become the first Aston Villa player to reach 10, while also aiming to score in three straight European starts.
Bologna also have attackers capable of changing the game in transition, and Jonathan Rowe has stood out in the knockout rounds. He leads this season’s Europa League knockout stage in ball carries of at least five metres ending in a shot, while also ranking first for both attempted and completed dribbles among all players.
The figures point to a matchup shaped by Villa’s home strength and Bologna’s stubborn away form, with the tie balanced between historical trends and recent momentum. Villa’s clean-sheet record against Italian sides and Bologna’s losing streak in England remain central to the story as the sides continue their Europa League battle.
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