Watkins Scores Twice as Aston Villa Defeats Bologna

Aston Villa takes commanding lead in Europa League quarterfinal matchup.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:28pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the energy and movement of a soccer match, with overlapping planes of color and abstracted player forms.Aston Villa's dominant road victory over Bologna puts them in prime position to advance in the Europa League.Today in Birmingham

Ollie Watkins scored two second-half goals to lead Aston Villa to a decisive victory over Bologna in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal matchup. The win gives Aston Villa a comfortable lead heading into the second leg in Birmingham.

Why it matters

Aston Villa's strong performance on the road against a tough Bologna side puts them in a prime position to advance to the Europa League semifinals. The team's offensive firepower and defensive resilience have them poised for a deep run in the competition.

The details

Watkins struck twice in the second half to give Aston Villa the victory. His first goal came in the 58th minute, and he added an insurance tally in the 75th minute to seal the result. Bologna put up a spirited effort at home, but ultimately could not overcome Aston Villa's quality.

  • The match was played on April 9, 2026.
  • Watkins scored his first goal in the 58th minute.
  • Watkins scored his second goal in the 75th minute.

The players

Ollie Watkins

The Aston Villa striker scored two goals to lead his team to victory.

Aston Villa

The English Premier League club that is competing in the Europa League quarterfinals.

Bologna

The Italian Serie A club that hosted Aston Villa in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinal.

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What they’re saying

“Ollie was clinical in front of goal and that made the difference today. We knew it would be a tough match, but the team executed our game plan perfectly.”

— Steven Gerrard, Aston Villa Manager

What’s next

The second leg of the Europa League quarterfinal between Aston Villa and Bologna will be played on April 16, 2026 in Birmingham.

The takeaway

Aston Villa's dominant performance on the road has them in prime position to advance to the Europa League semifinals. Ollie Watkins' brace was the difference, showcasing the team's offensive firepower and ability to win tough matches away from home.