Watkins doubles up to punish Bologna and put Aston Villa in driving seat

Ollie Watkins enjoyed a feast in Italy’s culinary capital, scoring two second half goals against a pumped-up Bologna side to take a comfortable lead back to Birmingham and the prospect of a Europa League semi-final as a secondi piatti.

Watkins’ double followed Ezri Konsa’s opening goal, and each goal was in some way due to Bologna errors. But they did not tell the whole story of the contest, with the Serie A side dominating much of the play. But after a flap by goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia had let Konsa in on the cusp of half-time, Villa managed the game effectively and responded to a late Bologna strike by their Englishman, Jonathan Rowe, by scoring a third in injury time.