Aston Villa vs Bologna, 2025-26 UEFA Europa League, League Phase
· UEFA Europa LeagueAston Villa beat Bologna for first win of season in UEL opener
John McGinn's first-half strike earned Aston Villa their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Bologna in their Europa League opener.
Match Commentary
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 1': Foul by Nadir Zortea (Bologna).
- 3': Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa).
- 3': Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 5': Donyell Malen (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 5': Foul by Nadir Zortea (Bologna).
- 5': Foul by Martin Vitík (Bologna).
- 5': Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 6': Attempt saved. Evann Guessand (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna).
- 9': Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 9': Foul by Jens Odgaard (Bologna).
- 10': Corner, Bologna. Conceded by Matty Cash.
- 11': Offside, Bologna. Jhon Lucumí is caught offside.
- 11': Evann Guessand (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 11': Foul by Remo Freuler (Bologna).
- 12': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Jhon Lucumí.
- 13': Attempt missed. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía with a cross following a corner.
- 13': Goal! Aston Villa 1, Bologna 0. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.
- 14': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Lewis Ferguson.
- 15': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Charalampos Lykogiannis.
- 16': Attempt blocked. Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ezri Konsa.
- 16': Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa).
- 16': Santiago Castro (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 17': Offside, Bologna. Santiago Castro is caught offside.
- 19': Attempt saved. Donyell Malen (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna). Assisted by Boubacar Kamara.
- 19': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Nicolò Cambiaghi.
- 19': Foul by Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).
- 19': Jhon Lucumí (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 20': Offside, Bologna. Nicolò Cambiaghi is caught offside.
- 23': Attempt missed. Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nicolò Cambiaghi with a cross.
- 24': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Federico Bernardeschi.
- 25': Attempt missed. Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
- 26': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Remo Freuler.
- 26': Foul by Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa).
- 26': Jens Odgaard (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 30': Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa).
- 30': Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 30': Foul by Charalampos Lykogiannis (Bologna).
- 30': Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 31': Attempt missed. Jhon Lucumí (Bologna) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Federico Bernardeschi.
- 33': Attempt saved. Federico Bernardeschi (Bologna) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa). Assisted by Jens Odgaard.
- 34': Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).
- 34': Jens Odgaard (Bologna) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 37': Offside, Bologna. Nadir Zortea is caught offside.
- 38': Attempt missed. Federico Bernardeschi (Bologna) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left.
- 41': Attempt missed. Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Federico Bernardeschi.
- 42': Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa).
- 42': Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 42': Matty Cash (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 43': Corner, Bologna. Conceded by Ian Maatsen.
- 43': Attempt blocked. Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 43': Attempt missed. Nadir Zortea (Bologna) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
- 44': Attempt missed. Matty Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Evann Guessand.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
- 45': Offside, Bologna. Santiago Castro is caught offside.
- 45'+1': Offside, Aston Villa. Donyell Malen is caught offside.
- 45'+2': Attempt missed. Santiago Castro (Bologna) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Charalampos Lykogiannis with a cross.
- 45'+2': First Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Bologna 0.
- 45': Second Half begins Aston Villa 1, Bologna 0.
- 47': Attempt saved. Federico Bernardeschi (Bologna) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa). Assisted by Lewis Ferguson.
- 49': Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 49': Foul by Jens Odgaard (Bologna).
- 52': Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 52': Foul by Remo Freuler (Bologna).
- 53': Attempt blocked. Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Charalampos Lykogiannis with a cross.
- 54': Foul by Jens Odgaard (Bologna).
- 54': John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 54': Charalampos Lykogiannis (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 54': Foul by Evann Guessand (Aston Villa).
- 57': Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 57': Foul by Jens Odgaard (Bologna).
- 58': Substitution, Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins replaces Donyell Malen.
- 58': Substitution, Aston Villa. Jadon Sancho replaces Emiliano Buendía.
- 59': Offside, Bologna. Federico Bernardeschi is caught offside.
- 59': Foul by Martin Vitík (Bologna).
- 59': Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 60': Delay in match because of an injury Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
- 60': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 60': Offside, Bologna. Nadir Zortea is caught offside.
- 62': Attempt blocked. Remo Freuler (Bologna) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Santiago Castro.
- 62': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Martin Vitík.
- 63': Offside, Aston Villa. Morgan Rogers is caught offside.
- 66': Penalty Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins draws a foul in the penalty area.
- 66': Penalty conceded by Martin Vitík (Bologna) after a foul in the penalty area.
- 66': Martin Vitík (Bologna) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 66': Jhon Lucumí (Bologna) is shown the yellow card.
- 68': Penalty saved. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal by Lukasz Skorupski (Bologna).
- 69': Foul by Nicolò Cambiaghi (Bologna).
- 69': Matty Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 70': Substitution, Bologna. Emil Holm replaces Nadir Zortea.
- 70': Substitution, Bologna. Jonathan Rowe replaces Nicolò Cambiaghi.
- 70': Substitution, Bologna. Riccardo Orsolini replaces Federico Bernardeschi.
- 71': Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).
- 71': Remo Freuler (Bologna) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 71': John McGinn (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 71': Santiago Castro (Bologna) hits the bar with a header from very close range. Assisted by Riccardo Orsolini with a cross.
- 72': Foul by Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).
- 72': Jens Odgaard (Bologna) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 72': Attempt saved. Jens Odgaard (Bologna) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa). Assisted by Charalampos Lykogiannis with a cross.
- 73': Delay in match because of an injury Marco Bizot (Aston Villa).
- 74': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 75': Substitution, Aston Villa. Lucas Digne replaces Ian Maatsen.
- 75': Foul by Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).
- 75': Santiago Castro (Bologna) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 76': Offside, Bologna. Emil Holm is caught offside.
- 79': Foul by Jadon Sancho (Aston Villa).
- 79': Santiago Castro (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 80': Offside, Bologna. Riccardo Orsolini is caught offside.
- 81': Corner, Bologna. Conceded by John McGinn.
- 81': Attempt saved. Emil Holm (Bologna) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa). Assisted by Charalampos Lykogiannis with a cross.
- 83': Substitution, Bologna. Giovanni Fabbian replaces Jens Odgaard.
- 83': Substitution, Bologna. Thijs Dallinga replaces Santiago Castro.
- 85': Attempt missed. Jadon Sancho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Morgan Rogers.
- 86': Attempt blocked. Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
- 89': Charalampos Lykogiannis (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 89': Foul by Evann Guessand (Aston Villa).
- 90': Foul by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa).
- 90': Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 90': Attempt saved. Martin Vitík (Bologna) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa).
- 90': Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
- 90'+1': Foul by Jadon Sancho (Aston Villa).
- 90'+1': Remo Freuler (Bologna) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+1': Attempt saved. Thijs Dallinga (Bologna) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa). Assisted by Remo Freuler with a cross.
- 90'+3': Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jadon Sancho.
- 90'+3': Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Martin Vitík.
- 90'+3': Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross following a corner.
- 90'+4': Foul by Jhon Lucumí (Bologna).
- 90'+4': Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+5': Emil Holm (Bologna) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 90'+5': Foul by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa).
- 90'+6': Attempt saved. Martin Vitík (Bologna) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner by Marco Bizot (Aston Villa). Assisted by Remo Freuler with a cross.
- 90'+6': Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Bologna 0.
- 0': Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Bologna 0.
Statistics
 BOL |
AVL |
|
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Fouls | 16 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 9 | Offsides | 2 |
| 3 | Corner Kicks | 8 |
| 3 | Saves | 7 |
| 52.9 | Possession | 47.1 |
| 17 | SHOTS | 12 |
| 7 | ON GOAL | 4 |
| 0.4 | On Target % | 0.3 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 1 |
| 308 | Accurate Passes | 269 |
| 373 | Passes | 338 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 10 | Accurate Crosses | 3 |
| 26 | Crosses | 14 |
| 0.4 | Cross % | 0.2 |
| 57 | Long Balls | 42 |
| 29 | Accurate Long Balls | 17 |
| 0.5 | Long Balls % | 0.4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 3 |
| 13 | Effective Tackles | 10 |
| 28 | Tackles | 16 |
| 0.5 | Tackle % | 0.6 |
| 15 | Interceptions | 5 |
| 25 | Effective Clearances | 21 |
| 25 | Clearances | 21 |
Game Information
Competition: UEFA Europa League
Venue: Villa Park
Location: Birmingham, England
Attendance: 30,909
Venue: Villa Park
Location: Birmingham, England
Attendance: 30,909
UEFA Europa League Standings
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dinamo Zagreb | 2 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | FC Midtjylland | 2 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 2 | +3 | 6 |
| 4 | Braga | 2 | +3 | 6 |
Line-Ups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 40 | Marco Bizot (GK) |
| 14 | Pau Torres |
| 4 | Ezri Konsa |
| 22 | Ian Maatsen |
| 2 | Matty Cash  |
| 27 | Morgan Rogers |
| 44 | Boubacar Kamara |
| 7 | John McGinn |
| 17 | Donyell Malen |
| 10 | Emiliano Buendía |
| 29 | Evann Guessand |
Bologna (4-2-2-2)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lukasz Skorupski (GK) |
| 26 | Jhon Lucumí |
| 41 | Martin Vitík |
| 22 | Charalampos Lykogiannis |
| 20 | Nadir Zortea |
| 8 | Remo Freuler |
| 19 | Lewis Ferguson |
| 21 | Jens Odgaard |
| 9 | Santiago Castro |
| 28 | Nicolò Cambiaghi |
| 10 | Federico Bernardeschi |
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