Europa League: Watkins strikes twice as Villa beat Bologna in QF first leg

BOLOGNA: Ezri Konsa headed the opener before Ollie Watkins struck twice to give Aston Villa 3-1 victory over Bologna and a first-leg advantage in their Europa League quarterfinal opener.

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.

Coming into the game on a club-record 11-match unbeaten Europa League run, Bologna repeatedly threatened an opener and almost succeeded when Emiliano Martínez pawed Juan Miranda's acrobatic drive behind and Lewis Ferguson volleyed Jonathan Rowe's cross against the underside of the crossbar.

Visiting captain John McGinn curled an effort narrowly wide from distance, but Villa had not fashioned an attempt on target before Ezri Konsa met a corner by Youri Tielemans – starting for the first time since returning from a long-term ankle injury – with a header at the far post to break the deadlock just before half-time.

BOLOGNA: Ezri Konsa headed the opener before Ollie Watkins struck twice to give Aston Villa 3-1 victory over Bologna and a first-leg advantage in their Europa League quarterfinal opener.

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.

Coming into the game on a club-record 11-match unbeaten Europa League run, Bologna repeatedly threatened an opener and almost succeeded when Emiliano Martínez pawed Juan Miranda's acrobatic drive behind and Lewis Ferguson volleyed Jonathan Rowe's cross against the underside of the crossbar.

Visiting captain John McGinn curled an effort narrowly wide from distance, but Villa had not fashioned an attempt on target before Ezri Konsa met a corner by Youri Tielemans – starting for the first time since returning from a long-term ankle injury – with a header at the far post to break the deadlock just before half-time.