UEL | Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna (7-1 agg): Painful end to Europa League dream
Bologna continued their disastrous record against Aston Villa, crashing out of the Europa League quarter-final with a 4-0 defeat, 7-1 on aggregate.
The Rossoblu had a mountain to climb after losing the first leg 3-1 at home, meaning the only defeats in the Europa League this season were against Aston Villa, also beaten here 1-0 in the opening league phase fixture on September 25.
Lukasz Skorupski, Thijs Dallinga and Benjamin Dominguez were still injured, with Jhon Lucumi suspended, but Martin Vitik returned from his ban. Villa missed Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Alysson, with Emiliano Martinez, Jadon Sancho and Tyrone Mings not at 100 per cent.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
The advantage became 4-1 within 16 minutes in Birmingham, as Aston Villa carved Bologna apart with a well-worked team move, Morgan Rogers rolling across from the left for Ollie Watkins to tap in from three yards.
Federico Bernardeschi stung Martinez’s gloves from distance, but VAR spotted Vitik’s flailing arm as a cross struck it, and Aston Villa received a penalty.
Buendia doubles Aston Villa’s lead
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Federico Ravaglia parried the Morgan Rogers spot-kick, but while they were still celebrating, Bologna conceded the second goal on a throw-in, as Emiliano Buendia drilled in at the near post from a tricky angle.
Santiago Castro couldn’t get on the end of a Rowe cross to the back post, but Villa were again clinical where Bologna were wasteful.
Aston Villa go 3-0 up and are cruising through this tie
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A long Martinez ball was knocked down, John McGinn sent it down the left, where Rogers again beat Ravaglia at the near post.
Vincenzo Italiano made a triple change at half-time and Riccardo Orsolini’s effort was deflected wide, while Martinez smothered the Nikola Moro strike.
Ravaglia prevented a fourth by making the save this time at the near post on Lucas Digne.
Digne was decisive at the other end, as Orsolini was about to bundle the Simon Sohm dinked assist over from five yards, until he was blocked off with Martinez beaten.
Juan Miranda charged down a Leon Bailey strike and Villa did add a fourth on the resulting corner, which was deflected up into the air for a spectacular Ezri Konsa acrobatic volley from five yards.
Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna (7-1 agg)
Watkins 16 (A), Buendia 26 (A), Rogers 39 (A), Konsa 89 (A)
Saved penalty: Rogers 25 (A)
Player statistic
| Ollie Watkins (Assist: Morgan Rogers) |
16' | |||
| Morgan Rogers |  |
25' | ||
| Emiliano Buendía (Assist: Lucas Digne) |
26' | |||
| 29' |  |
Federico Bernardeschi | ||
| Morgan Rogers (Assist: John McGinn) |
39' |
| Ezri Konsa (Assist: Tammy Abraham) |
 |
89' |
