Verdict: Both teams to score – No
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Getting their Europa League adventure underway on Thursday night, Aston Villa will welcome Bologna to the Midlands.
Aston Villa
Starting with the hosts, suffering major heartbreak back in May as they eventually fell short in the race to book another famous Champions League ticket, some were wondering if Aston Villa would show any signs of a hangover this time around. Although Unai Emery’s men might have opened up the 2025/26 campaign with their sights set on mounting a genuine top-four charge, the former Arsenal boss has seen his squad drastically fail to find any kind of fluidity. Suffering a late collapse away at Premier League returners Sunderland over the weekend as they had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at the Stadium of Light, Villa have failed to win any of their first six appearances across all competitions. Likewise, despite finding the net on their travels last time out, that is the only Premier League goal that Emery’s side have registered so far this season.
Aston Villa Team News
Both still dealing with respective muscle issues, Aston Villa will once again be without the Belgium duo of Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana on Thursday night. Facing a quick turnaround in midweek, Emery could be tempted to make a handful of alterations.
Both completing Deadline Day deals to the Midlands, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliot could feature from the start. Former Chelsea starlet Ian Maatsen could replace Lucas Digne at left-back.
Bologna
As for the visitors, managing to claim a much-welcomed boost over the weekend as they clinched a 2-1 victory at home against Genoa, it is no secret that Bologna have been searching for some crucial stability on either side of September’s international break. Despite making real history back in May as they were crowned Coppa Italian champions for the first time since 1974, Vincenzo Italiano’s men are in the midst of what has become a domestic rut. Losing each of their final three Serie A appearances last season, Bologna have won just a pair of their previous nine top-flight showdowns continuing on from last season. Likewise, opening the 2025/26 campaign with consecutive 1-0 losses away at AC Milan and Roma, Thursday’s guests have drastically failed to find any fluidity away from the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Bologna Team News
Both dealing with recent thigh issues, Bologna will be unable to call upon the duo of Nicolo Casale and summer recruit Ciro Immobile. Likewise, Atalanta loanee Ibrahim Sulemana is also not expected to be part of Italiano’s travelling squad.
Finding the net against Genoa over the weekend and opening his Serie A account, 21-year-old Santiago Castro will lead the line here. Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Remo Freuler will partner Nikola Moro in the middle of the park.
Aston Villa vs Bologna Key Factors to Consider
- When Aston Villa and Bologna met for a Champions League showdown in the Midlands last season, Emery’s men collected a 2-0 victory on home soil.
- Villa have failed to win any of their first six appearances across all competitions so far this season.
- Likewise, Villa have also registered just a single strike in any of their first five Premier League battles.
- Bologna have lost their first two Serie A showdowns outside of Emilia-Romagna by a 1-0 scoreline.
- The Greyhounds have failed to record more than a single strike in six of their previous seven away fixtures.
Conclusion
Landing a 2-0 victory when they welcomed Bologna to the Midlands for a Champions League showdown last year, Aston Villa will be desperately seeking a much-welcomed boost here. However, despite their their Europa League adventure underway on Thursday night, Emery’s men have drastically failed to find any kind of stability. Along with failing to win any of their first six appearances across all competitions, Villa have also continued to show some worrying attacking struggles. Notching just a single Premier League strike so far this season, we could be set for another nail-biting affair on Thursday.
Verdict: Both teams to score – No
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
