Aston Villa Match Day Hub | Results, Verdicts, Controversy & Previews

Home » Aston Villa » Aston Villa Match Hub

Last Updated: April 13, 2026 | 08:25 BST

UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final

ASTON VILLA

HOME

BOLOGNA

AWAY

Thursday 16 April

Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Villa Park • Ref: TBD

TNT Sports

Aston Villa have one foot in the Europa League semi-finals after an impressive 3-1 win away at Bologna in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Thursday. Ezri Konsa’s goal and a brace by Ollie Watkins put the Villans in a commanding position ahead of their second leg at Villa Park next week. They can now focus on finishing the job to set up a semi-final against either Porto or Nottingham Forest, after drawing 1-1 with Vitor Pereira’s Forest at the City Ground in the Premier League.

Aston Villa back in hunt for top-five Premier League finish

Due to Villa’s issues with PSR and maintaining a squad-cost ratio that befits UEFA’s rules, qualification for the Champions League this season is priority number one for Unai Emery and his squad. Villa, luckily, have two ways they can do that: win the Europa League, or finish in the top five of the Premier League. English clubs have done well in Europe this season, with five Champions League spots up for grabs, as the league’s qualification spots were confirmed this week.

Emery’s men could have moved up to third in the Premier League in results had gone their way over the weekend but they remain fourth after the Forest draw. The gap to sixth is now seven points, though, a nice cushion to have with only six top-flight games remaining this term.

Season Tracker