Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa will take a two-goal lead into the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie against Bologna following a maiden victory in Italy on Thursday night.

The visitors were second best in the first half at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara but led at half-time thanks to Ezri Konsa’s header from Youri Tielemans’ corner shortly before the break.

Ollie Watkins doubled the lead with his 98^th goal for the club after 51 minutes, finishing smartly past Federico Ravaglia.

Santiago Castro saw a goal disallowed in the first half and the hosts also struck the crossbar before finally finding a way past Emi Martínez in the 90th minute via Jonathan Rowe.

However, Watkins' 99th strike for Villa in the final moments of the game restored the two-goal lead for his team heading into the second leg at Villa Park.

An eighth consecutive Europa League triumph also marked the club’s first win in a UEFA match in Italy on our first visit to the country since 1994. 

At the picturesque Dall’Ara, Tielemans and Emi Buendía came into the starting line-up as Villa looked to continue their strong European campaign.

Opponents Bologna, who had compiled an 11-game unbeaten run in the competition following defeat at Villa Park on Matchday One, pinned Emery’s men back during a confident start to the tie.

And with 21 minutes on the clock, the Serie A side registered the first shot on target when Juan Miranda’s volley was parried behind by Martínez.

The stadium erupted soon after when an attempted cross from Castro crept millimetres over the line, having deflected off Konsa, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal for an offside in the build-up.

As Villa rocked, Bologna went close again, striking the crossbar when Lewis Ferguson met a cross from the lively Rowe.

Aside from a John McGinn drive, the visitors had failed to threaten Ravaglia’s goal before they forged ahead in the 44^th minute.

Konsa saw off the close attention of Jhon Lucumi to head Tielemans’ corner into an empty net, which Ravaglia vacated in his unsuccessful attempt to punch the ball clear.

Tommaso Pobega fired over as Bologna looked to mount a charge at the start of the second half, but it was Villa who showed their ruthless edge to score a second after 51 minutes.

Excellent closing down from Buendía on the left allowed Watkins to surge into the box and slot an effort between the legs of Ravaglia.

Morgan Rogers sent a dipping drive inches over the crossbar and Buendía whipped a shot wide as Villa threatened a third.

The creative duo registered another effort apiece before Federico Bernardeschi shot into the side netting with 12 minutes to play.

Rowe had been the home side's biggest threat throughout the night, and after 81 minutes, only a sublime save from Martínez denied him a goal, the Argentine flying through the air to tip his shot over the bar. 

The winger wasn't to be denied, however, cutting inside and lashing a shot beyond Martínez in the final minute of the 90.

Villa's two-goal lead was restored in the final moments as Watkins controlled a corner and rolled the ball home to bag number 99 of his Villa career.