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It is Serie A against the Premier League as Bologna welcome Aston Villa to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash on Thursday night.
The hosts knocked out fellow Italian side Roma in the last round, courtesy of a late extra-time winner.
Meanwhile, Villa were victorious 3-0 on aggregate against Lille, and remain the favourites with bookmakers to win the competition.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our Europa League predictions!
Contents
Bologna vs. Aston Villa key stats
- Bologna have lost just once in five games in all competitions (W3, D1).
- Villa have won just once in four away matches across all competitions (D1, L2).
- Villa won the previous two H2Hs on home soil.
Bologna vs. Aston Villa preview: Villans to be denied victory?
| Bologna | vs | Villa |
|---|---|---|
| 8th | Position | 4th |
| 45 | Points | 54 |
| 40 | Goals For | 42 |
| 37 | Goals Against | 37 |
| 9 | Clean Sheets | 9 |
| 13th | Home Rank | 4th |
| 3rd | Away Rank | 7th |
Bologna are still fighting to finish in the European spots in Serie A after their 2-1 win at Cremonese last time out.
That victory closed the gap to sixth-placed Roma to nine points with seven games left to play, and the hosts have already shown they can come out on top against them.
Indeed, Bologna beat Roma 5-4 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Europa League, booking them their spot in the quarter-final.
It will be a tough task against Villa though, who bookies' have installed as favourites to win the competition.
Unai Emery is a serial winner of the Europa League, having won it more than any manager, and will be desperate to get his hands on the trophy again.
It represents a realistic opportunity for Villa to end their long hunt for major silverware, but they will have to get past Bologna again to do so.
Indeed, the Villans beat them 1-0 in the league phase, but that was at Villa Park, and this next test comes on away soil.
Still, they should be confident of a positive result given their strong season so far, where they sit fourth in the Premier League.
Bologna vs. Aston Villa form guide & betting tips
| Bologna | vs | Villa |
|---|---|---|
| D-W-W-L-W | Form | W-L-W-W-L |
| 8 | Goals For | 7 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 5 |
| W-D-W | Europa League form | W-W-W |
Whispers predicts: Bologna 1-1 Aston Villa
Villa are 7/5 favourites with bookmakers to win this one, but we feel this could be a tricky test for them in Italy.
Indeed, the hosts have won three of their last four games in all competitions, so a Draw at 12/5 appeals to us.
However, one thing we are not expecting is too many goals, with just three scored across the previous two meetings.
Under 2.5 goals at 4/5 is therefore another bet we are willing to take.
In terms of a niche pick, we want to focus on the HT market, as Villa have not conceded in the first half in any of their last four matches, but have also scored their previous six Europa League goals in the second half.
Thus, 1st half - 0-0 at 15/8 would represent value in what could start as a cagey affair.
Overall, we are predicting a 1-1 draw, which is available at 11/2 with bookmakers.
> Under 2.5 goals at 4/5 | Likelihood: Probable
> 1st half - 0-0 at 15/8 | Likelihood: Possible
> Draw at 12/5 | Likelihood: Outsider