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Analysis of the match between Bologna and Aston Villa
After more than two weeks since their last official match, Aston Villa finally enters the crucial stage of the season, maintaining their position in the Premier League Top 5 while continuing their journey in the Europa League. The 1982 European champions are preparing for their third consecutive appearance in the continental quarter-finals over three seasons, having defeated Lille in the previous round with an aggregate score of 3-0.
Under the guidance of Unai Emery, Villa still need to push for a Champions League spot next season, having earned only 9 points in their last 10 Premier League matches, which caused a drop in the standings before an important home win against West Ham.
Before traveling to Bologna, Villa had a two-and-a-half-week break, giving Emery – a seasoned expert in Europa League knockout stages with four titles – extra time to prepare tactics. Emery has also won both tactical battles against Vincenzo Italiano.
For Bologna, the team suffered two defeats in Birmingham over the past 18 months: 0-2 in last season’s Champions League and 0-1 earlier this season. However, since then, Rossoblu have established an 11-match unbeaten streak in Europe, with the Villa Park loss being their only defeat in the last 15 matches.
Coach Italiano, twice runner-up in the Conference League with Fiorentina, will lead Bologna into a European quarter-final for the fifth time in his career. This will be Bologna’s first quarter-final since eliminating Lyon in the UEFA Cup 1998/99.
