Aston Villa vs Bologna Prediction - UEFA Europa League

At 2:00 AM on April 17, 2026, Villa Park will be the focal point for the clash between Aston Villa and Bologna in the UEFA Europa League. The home team currently sits second in the table with 21 points after a convincing run. Meanwhile, the Italian side, Bologna, is also striving to catch up, currently sitting in 10th place with 15 points.

Position on the leaderboard

Analysis of form and playing style

Aston Villa are displaying incredibly consistent form under their current manager. In 11 matches played this season, they have won 10 and lost only 1. Notably, the defense of the Villa Park team is a solid foundation, conceding an average of only 0.6 goals per game. This balance between attack and defense makes Villa one of the strongest contenders for the title.

Furthermore, Bologna are not an easy opponent to beat, especially when playing away from home. In 13 matches since the start of the season, they have won 7 and drawn 4. Bologna's strength lies in their ability to capitalize on opportunities away from home with 5 wins. However, their defense still shows weaknesses, conceding an average of 1.1 goals per game, which could become a vulnerability against Aston Villa's strong attack.

Historically, the head-to-head record favors the English representative.

Looking at recent head-to-head history, Aston Villa has a clear advantage over Bologna. In the last five encounters, the Premier League side has won all three of the most recent matches.

• April 10, 2026: Bologna 1 - 3 Aston Villa
• September 26, 2025: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna
• October 23, 2024: Aston Villa 2 - 0 Bologna

This trend suggests that Villa consistently find ways to break through Bologna's defense and keep clean sheets in most of their matches at Villa Park.

Team situation: The visiting team faces numerous difficulties.

Both teams are facing serious personnel issues. Aston Villa will definitely be without Alysson, R. Barkley, B. Kamara (knee injury) and B. Madjo. Jadon Sancho's availability remains uncertain due to a shoulder injury.

On Bologna's side, the list of absentees is even longer. The visitors will be without their number one goalkeeper L. Skorupski (muscle injury), center-back J. Lucumi (suspended due to accumulating yellow cards), and key players such as T. Dallinga and B. Dominguez (hip injuries). The loss of numerous key players across all three lines will be a huge challenge for the Italian side.

Predicting tactics and results

Based on their current form and squad strength, Aston Villa are predicted to take control of the game from the start. With home advantage and a deeper squad, Villa are more likely to secure all three points or at least a draw. The match is expected to be tight with a low number of goals, as both teams have suffered losses in their attacking line.

Forecast:Aston Villa win or draw.

Team lineup updated at 01:30 on 17/04/2026

Official lineup

Aston Villa

Diagram: 4-2-3-1

CoachUnai Emery

Starting lineup:

• 23. Emiliano Martinez (G)
• 2. Matty Cash (D)
• 4. Ezri Konsa (D)
• 14. Pau Torres (D)
• 12. Lucas Digne (D)
• 8. Youri Tielemans (M)
• 24. Amadou Onana (M)
• 7. John McGinn (M)
• 27. Morgan Rogers (F)
• 10. Emiliano Buendía (M)
• 11. Ollie Watkins (F)

Substitutes:

• 40. Marco Bizot
• 64. James Wright
• 16. Andrés García
• 22. Ian Maatsen
• 5. Tyrone Mings
• 3. Victor Lindelof
• 26. Lamare Bogarde
• 9. Harvey Elliott
• 21. Douglas Luiz
• 31. Leon Bailey
• 19. Jadon Sancho
• 18. Tammy Abraham

Bologna

Diagram: 4-2-3-1

CoachVincenzo Italiano

Starting lineup:

• 13. Federico Ravaglia (G)
• 17. João Mário (D)
• 41. Martin Vitík (D)
• 16. Nicolò Casale (D)
• 33. Juan Miranda (D)
• 6. Nikola Moro (M)
• 8. Remo Freuler (D)
• 10. Federico Bernardeschi (M)
• 19. Lewis Ferguson (M)
• 11. Jonathan Rowe (F)
• 9. Santiago Castro (F)