Italiano: ‘Bologna went beyond expectations, Aston Villa are Champions League level’
Italiano: ‘Bologna went beyond expectations, Aston Villa are Champions League level’ Vincenzo Italiano explains his surprising tactical adjustments against Aston Villa, but insists Bologna ‘went beyond expectations’ reaching the Europa League quarter-finals. The Rossoblu knew that it was a tough task after losing the first leg 3-1 at home , especially as they had already been beaten at Villa Park both in the Champions League last season, and in the Europa League group phase back in September 2025. However, they were hoping for better than a 4-0 mauling in this second leg , especially as Federico Ravaglia also parried a Morgan Rogers penalty, only for Emiliano Buendia to score on the following throw-in.
Ollie Watkins, Rogers and a late acrobatic Ezri Konsa volley completed the rout, eliminating Bologna 7-1 on aggregate. Bologna experiment didn’t work with Aston Villa BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg Two match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on April 16, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Italiano pulled a few surprises this evening, above all inverting his full-backs from their usual positions.
“Analysing this match is superfluous,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia. “We made too many mistakes in the first leg, so we tried to do something different with Joao Mario and Juan Miranda on opposite sides, because Villa are so good at defending the box when we get to the by-line. The idea was when defending that we’d cut inside on our stronger feet.
“That’s not the reason why we lost, it’s because Aston Villa are so incredibly clinical that they score with every chance. We hadn’t started badly, but when they score at the first chance and you are 4-1 down on aggregate, it all becomes more difficult. ” BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Lewis Ferguson of Bologna interacts with Referee Jose Maria Sanchez during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg Two match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on April 16, 2026 in Birmingham, England.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Despite the heaviness of the defeats, it must be noted that the only Europa League games Bologna lost this season were all against Aston Villa. “We must learn lessons from the whole journey, recognise that right now Aston Villa have an extra gear compared to us. They probably belong in the Champions League more than the Europa League, and I believe they will win the trophy,” continued the coach.