Aston Villa is on the verge of making history as they prepare to face Bologna in their third UEFA Champions League group stage match. Unai Emery’s side enjoyed a perfect start to their European campaign, winning both of their opening games without conceding a single goal.
Their latest triumph, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over German giants Bayern Munich at Villa Park, has positioned them to become only the second Premier League side to win their first three Champions League games without conceding. If Villa secure a win against Bologna on Tuesday, they will join Málaga (2012-13) and Leicester City (2016-17) as the only teams to achieve this remarkable feat since the competition’s rebrand in 1992.
The Victories
The Villans’ first two victories came in contrasting styles, with a commanding 3-0 win against Young Boys followed by a gritty defensive performance against Bayern. As they travel to face a Bologna side struggling for form in Europe, Villa will be keen to maintain their defensive resilience and continue their historic run.
Speaking ahead of the game, Emery emphasized the importance of preparing tactically for the match: “We are playing on Tuesday and we are excited for the Champions league. Of course, we want to analyse the match and prepare tactically.” Emery said.
Bologna, who have yet to register a win in this year’s tournament, will look to upset Villa’s plans and keep their own European hopes alive.
Bologna Struggling for Form in Europe and Serie A
Bologna’s European journey has been far from smooth, and they enter the match against Villa winless in their first two Champions League fixtures. After playing out a goalless draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in their opening game, the Italian side lost 2-0 to Liverpool. Their domestic form has also left much to be desired. In their most recent Serie A outing, Bologna squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Genoa, leaving them 13th in the table.
Manager Vincenzo Italiano faces an uphill battle, compounded by a series of injuries that have further depleted his options. Swiss internationals Dan Ndoye and Michel Aebischer are out alongside key players like Martin Erlic and winger Samuel Iling-Junior, who is on loan from Villa. With Bologna’s attack struggling for goals and lacking depth, the burden will fall on Santiago Castro and Riccardo Orsolini to lead the charge.
Despite their struggles, Bologna will be hoping that home advantage can play a role in turning their fortunes around. “Every game gives you food for thought. Too many times we were ahead and too many times we were caught up. We need to raise our attention.” Italiano said ahead of the Tuesday UCL game.
Team Updates
Aston Villa head into this crucial Champions League fixture with a relatively clean bill of health. Robin Olsen is the only player unavailable due to injury. Key defenders Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara are set to return after lengthy injury layoffs, bolstering Villa’s defensive line. Meanwhile, captain John McGinn has fully recovered from a minor hamstring injury and made a brief appearance in Villa’s 3-1 Premier League win over Fulham at the weekend, further boosting their midfield options.
For Bologna, the injury list is far more concerning. Ndoye, Aebischer, and Iling-Junior are all set to miss out, leaving Italiano with a depleted squad to choose from. Nicolo Cambiaghi, Oussama El Azzouzi, and Lewis Ferguson are also sidelined, though Ferguson has returned to full training and could be an option off the bench. With so many absentees, Bologna’s options in attack are limited, and Castro is likely to start up front. Bologna’s defensive vulnerabilities have been laid bare in recent weeks, and they will need a monumental effort to contain a confident Villa side.
This matchup will test Bologna’s depth and resolve, particularly in the face of Villa’s strong attacking unit. With Emery’s men in excellent form, Bologna will need to be defensively disciplined and hope to capitalize on the few opportunities they create.
Historic Opportunity Awaits Aston Villa
Aston Villa is on the cusp of writing their names into Champions League history, but Unai Emery’s side will be wary of complacency. A win against the Series A side would see Villa become only the third side to win their first three Champions League games without conceding, a feat achieved by only Málaga and Leicester City. Villa’s success so far in the UEFA Champions League this season has been built on solid defensive foundations, with Emiliano Martinez in fine form between the posts complemented by a resilient backline.
For Bologna, the stakes are equally high, though the challenge is far greater. They have failed to score in either of their opening two matches, and a third consecutive failure would see them join a small group of teams who have gone scoreless in their first three Champions League games. The last side to do so was FK Austria Wien in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League campaign.
As both teams prepare for Tuesday’s clash, the narrative is clear: Villa is chasing history, while Bologna is fighting for survival. If Villa can continue their stellar form and keep another clean sheet, they will further cement their reputation as one of Europe’s most formidable sides this season. Meanwhile, Bologna will need to dig deep and defy the odds.
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