Aston Villa vs Bologna Predictions

• Villa hold a 3-1 lead after the first leg
• Villa have beaten Bologna three times in the last two seasons
• Bologna have scored in 19 consecutive away games

Villa on course for last four spot

Aston Villa have one foot in the Europa League semi-finals ahead of Bologna’s visit on Thursday after a 3-1 victory in the first leg of their last eight tie in Italy last week.

This will be the fourth meeting between these sides in the last two seasons and the Villans have won the previous three clashes. A home win has a strong chance, but the better value option is backing both teams to score.

Bologna have to go for it if they are to stand any chance of turning this tie around and their season effectively hinges on this game, as qualifying for Europe next season via Serie A looks out of reach.

The Rossoblu do have a strong scoring record on their travels and they’ve scored in 19 consecutive away games – a run stretching back to a 1-0 loss at Villa Park during the league phase of this competition.

Both teams have scored in four of Villa’s last six home games and they have scored in all of those fixtures. The Premier League side should get plenty of chances on the counter as well as Bologna have to commit men forward so goals at both ends looks a strong option here.

Villa can finish the job with a win

A Bologna goal is expected but that may be as good as it gets for the visitors and a 4-1 home win is of interest here. Villa have a perfect home record in the Europa League this season and after scoring three at the Renato Dall’Ara last week and may be able to go one better at Villa Park, potentially with a few late goals if it gets to a stage where the tie is clearly beyond Bologna.

Ollie Watkins scored twice in Italy last week and he looks the best option for an anytime effort on Thursday. Watkins failed to score in his first eight Europa League appearances this season but has three goals in his last three games in Europe.