Credit: Getty Images

Evan Lloyd

Wed 8 April 2026 10:15, UK

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Aston Villa have never travelled to Italy and emerged victorious, with Unai Emery hoping to change that on Thursday.

The Villans will take on Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in the first leg of their quarter-final clash as they look to give themselves an advantage ahead of next week’s return leg.

Emery’s team have already beaten Bologna once this season, meeting at Villa Park in the league stage and winning 1-0 via John McGinn’s strike.

That win triggered a run of 18 wins in 21 games across all competitions, and the Premier League side will hope a win on Thursday could have the same effect.

Villa’s form has faltered of late, but hopes of Champions League football remain intact at Villa Park.

Aston Villa must overcome previous visits

Football Insider revealed in March that Villa could be forced to sell Morgan Rogers if they do not qualify for the Champions League.

The midfielder is undoubtedly the star man at Villa Park, but decision-makers may have to consider the mounting interest in him as they grapple with profit and sustainability rules and restrictions.

Luckily, Champions League football looks well within reach for Emery’s team, especially after Arsenal’s win on Tuesday, which has confirmed that fifth place will qualify for Europe’s top competition.

Winning the Europa League is another way to qualify, and Emery will hope to lift the trophy for a fifth time next month.

Bologna stand in the way, and Villa will have to overcome a terrible club record of playing away in Italy.

The English side first travelled to Italy in the 1982-83 season, losing 3-1 to Juventus in the European Cup quarter-final after legendary midfielder Michel Platini netted a brace.

They would not return until 1990-91, when they were smashed 3-0 by Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup second round.

San Siro would be the same venue in the same competition in 1994-95, with the same team winning 1-0 this time.

Villa have had more joy at home

In both ties against Inter, Villa managed to win the home leg. In 1990, they had won the first leg 2-0 before it was overturned at San Siro.

In 1994, however, their loss had been in the first leg, with Ray Houghton’s goal at Villa Park allowing them to eventually go through via penalties.

There is home confidence against Bologna, too, having beaten them this season and last season in the Champions League.

Juventus are the only Italian team to have come to Villa Park and emerged victorious, winning 2-1 in the other leg of the 1982-83 European Cup.