Bologna – Aston Villa: Trademark Emery Leaves Italiano Spitting Feathers (1-3)

This followed the Unai Emery script, but after winning this competition four times, could one expect any different? Jonathan Rowe caused havoc, but Aston Villa found a way to puncture Bologna’s tyres.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Unai Emery, with a team named Villa, brings an air of inevitability in European competition. After knocking out Lille, the quarter-finals arranged another meeting with Bologna, having faced them in league phases of the Europa League this season, and the Champions League last season.

Vincenzo Italiano can rightfully claim himself as Serie A’s cup specialist. In Rome, Bologna let Gasperini’s team back into the game, but an excellent recovery in extra-time was rewarded with Nicolò Cambiaghi scoring the winner in a 4-3 classic. Results have been inconsistent, but last season’s Coppa Italia triumph, as well as two Conference League finals with Fiorentina, give Bologna comfort knowing that Italiano knows how to get his teams deep in the competitions.

Aston Villa’s form has also hit a rocky road, with heavy defeats to Newcastle (in the FA Cup), Chelsea and