Europa League preview: Aston Villa v Bologna - Team news, Lineups, Prediction
Aston Villa begin their Europa League campaign against familiar opposition as Bologna return to Villa Park for the second season running. Villa came out on top with a 2-0 win in last year's Champions League clash, but the mood in Birmingham is very different this time.
Aston Villa and Bologna in action during last season's Champions League encounter. Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Villa are still without a domestic victory this season. Matty Cash finally broke their scoring drought in a 1-1 draw with ten-man Sunderland last weekend, yet Emery's side remain winless after six games and sit near the foot of the Premier League. A penalty shootout exit to Brentford in the EFL Cup only deepened the gloom.
Europe could again offer a lifeline. Last season Villa thrilled on their first Champions League appearance in over forty years, reaching the quarter finals before bowing out to eventual winners Paris Saint Germain. Emery, the most decorated coach in Europa League history with four titles, will see this competition as the perfect stage to reset.
Bologna arrive with silverware and ambition. The Rossoblu ended decades of waiting by lifting the Coppa Italia in May, beating AC Milan in Rome to secure back to back European qualifications for the first time this century. They were beaten in Birmingham last October and are still searching for their first victory over English opponents in Europe, but this is a stronger, more confident team.
Coach Vincenzo Italiano has built a side with resilience. Two home wins this season, including a last gasp triumph over Genoa at the weekend, have been offset by away defeats, yet Bologna carry threat through Riccardo Orsolini and Santiago Castro who are beginning to form a dangerous partnership.
Form guide
Aston Villa: D L L D L D
Bologna: L W L W
Team news
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on at the Stadium Of Light. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Unai Emery is expected to shuffle his pack after accusing his side of being lazy in the Sunderland draw. Midfield options remain thin with Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana injured, Ross Barkley unavailable and Boubacar Kamara only just back. Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho are in contention to start while Donyell Malen is pushing Ollie Watkins for the central striker role.
Bologna will be without Nicolo Casale, Tommaso Pobega, Ibrahim Sulemana and Ciro Immobile, while right back Lorenzo De Silvestri was left out of their European squad. Castro, Orsolini and Luke Rowe are likely to spearhead the attack with Thijs Dallinga available as an alternative after scoring key goals in last season's Coppa Italia and Champions League.
Likely lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, McGinn; Elliott, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins
Bologna: Skorupski; Zortea, Vitik, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Rowe; Castro
We say: Aston Villa 0-1 Bologna
Riccardo Orsolini celebrates scoring against Genoa in Serie A. Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Villa have the history and the expertise of Emery, but they look short of confidence and blunt in attack.
Bologna are not the strongest travellers, yet their new-found belief and experience in knockout football should make them difficult to beat.