The lowdown on Bologna

Aston Villa open their 2025/26 UEFA Europa League campaign at Villa Park on Thursday evening, when Bologna visit B6.

Unai Emery’s men will turn out in European competition for the third year running, after making the semi-finals of the 2023/24 UEFA Conference League before last season’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals.

It will also be the second successive season the Villans have played host to the Italian outfit, after last season’s Champions League league phase clash which Villa won 2-0.

With Villa looking to make a winning start to life in the Europa League on Matchday One, here is a closer look at our opponents…

Scenesetter

Founded at the Ronzani beer house in 1909, Bologna is a club steeped in history and success, having won no less than seven Serie A titles and lifted the Coppa Italia on a further three occasions.

A successful few years has brought about the opportunity for the Emilia-Romagna-based side to compete on the European stage, after Thiago Motta led them to a fifth-placed finish in 2023/24 and Vincenzo Italiano ended a 51-year wait for a trophy in May.

The Rossoblù have won two and lost two of the first four league fixtures of the 2025/26 season, leaving them 11th in the table heading into their first Europa League outing of the campaign.

In the dugout

Vincenzo Italiano enjoyed a season to remember during his debut campaign in charge of the club.

He lifted the first major honour of his coaching career when he guided Bologna to the Coppa Italia in May, edging out AC Milan 1-0 at Stadio Olimpico.

Success in Rome ended the club’s 51-year wait for a trophy as well as ending a run of three final defeats for Italiano.

The 47-year-old reached back-to-back UEFA Europa Conference League finals and a Coppa Italia final in his previous post at Fiorentina, missing out on each occasion by a one-goal margin.

Italiano, who has won promotion from Serie C and Serie B as a manager, oversaw a ninth-place finish in Serie A last term, while also competing in the UEFA Champions League.

Born in Germany, he enjoyed a productive playing career in Italy as a midfielder, representing the likes of Hellas Verona, Chievo and Padova.

Three to watch

Łukasz Skorupski

The Polish goalkeeper is at the peak of his powers in his eighth season with the Rossoblù.

Skorupski made 37 appearances last term, keeping 13 clean sheets, including one in the final of the Coppa Italia win against AC Milan.

The 34-year-old got his first taste of UEFA Champions League football last term, playing seven of their eight league phase matches and featuring in their loss at Villa Park.

He’s found a home at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara since joining from AS Roma in 2018, racking up over 250 games for the club, and he continues to be Vincenzo Italiano’s No.1 this term.

Riccardo Orsolini

Bologna have scored three times in their opening four Serie A matches of the season, and Orsolini is responsible for two of them.

The winger’s start represents a continuation of the best campaign of his career in 2024/25, scoring 19 goals and earning a place in the Italian top flight’s Team of the Year.

Orsolini’s skilful style on the right flank is a main feature of Bologna’s play and he’ll look to cut inside on his stronger left foot to score and assist.

His superb displays in the red and blue have earned him a recall to the Italy setup as the 28-year-old makes the most of his prime years.

Remo Freuler

The former Nottingham Forest man has excelled since joining Bologna, initially on loan, in September 2023 after a short spell at The City Ground.

Freuler provides stability in the middle of the park for head coach Italiano, sitting in defensive midfield in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation.

The Swiss international, who has 82 caps to his name, missed only one Serie A game through suspension last season and started every game of their successful Coppa Italia campaign.

Freuler has been given the armband on occasion this season and last, highlighting his influence on this Bologna side.

Their home

Inaugurated in 1927 as Stadio Littoriale, Stadio Renato Dall'Ara is named after a former president of Bologna.

A 36,000-capacity venue, the facility was one of the first stadiums to incorporate the stands into the architecture, with a large, striking arch structure the centrepiece of one of the unsheltered stands.

Located in the city’s Saragozza district, the stadium hosted matches at both the 1934 and 1990 World Cups, and has also staged rugby league fixtures and music concerts.

Last time out

Bologna will arrive at Villa Park still basking in the glow of last season’s Coppa Italia triumph, which secured a first major trophy for 51 years after Dan Ndoye notched in the second half to seal victory over Milan, before joining Nottingham Forest over the summer. 

It was the perfect end to boss Italiano’s first campaign at the helm and ensured another season of European football, despite slipping down to ninth in Serie A.

It is the club’s second visit to B6 in just under a year, after Villa got the upper hand in last season's Champions League league phase face-off, winning 2-0.

Bologna failed to progress from the league phase, but will hope to fare better in the Europa League this time around.