Aston Villa earned a narrow but vital 1-0 win over Bologna at Villa Park, giving their Europa League campaign a much-needed lift. The hosts struck early, with John McGinn finding the net in the 13th minute after pouncing on a loose ball outside the box and curling a precise shot into the bottom corner. That early breakthrough immediately settled Villa’s nerves and put the visitors on the back foot, forcing Bologna to chase the game under the Villa Park lights.
Bologna gradually grew into the contest after the goal, enjoying more possession and creating a couple of threatening moments. Santiago Castro nearly leveled things in the 31st minute with a header that went just over the bar, while Riccardo Orsolini tested Villa’s stand-in goalkeeper Marco Bizot with a powerful drive from distance. Villa still looked dangerous on the counterattack, but their decision-making in the final third prevented them from doubling the lead before halftime.
The second half was tense as Bologna pushed higher up the pitch, forcing Villa into deeper defensive positions. Marco Bizot made a crucial save in the 58th minute, parrying away Castro’s effort to preserve the lead. Moments later, Villa had the chance to extend their advantage from the spot after Watkins was brought down in the box, but his penalty was well saved by Lukasz Skorupski, keeping Bologna’s hopes alive and intensifying the atmosphere inside the stadium.
With the game hanging in the balance, both managers made tactical changes. Emery introduced fresh legs in midfield to regain control, while Bologna threw on extra attackers in search of an equalizer. The visitors came closest in the 83rd minute when a long-range strike from Orsolini clipped the woodwork, but Villa’s defense held firm under relentless pressure during the closing stages, with Diego Carlos and Pau Torres making key clearances.
When the final whistle blew, Villa players and fans alike celebrated what could be a turning point in their season. McGinn’s early strike proved decisive, and despite Watkins’ missed penalty, the team showed the resilience and discipline needed to see out a European night under pressure. For Bologna, it was a frustrating evening of missed opportunities, as their late dominance yielded no reward. Villa now sit in a stronger position in their group and will look to build on this result to gain momentum in both Europe and the Premier League.
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| ⚽Highlights | |
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| 🥅 Streamhg | Server #1 |
| 🥇 Earnvids | Server #2 |
| 🎯 Filemoon | Server #3 |
| 🧤 Listeamed | Server #4 |
| ⬇️ Download | Link Here |
Watch and Download Aston Villa vs Bologna full match replay and highlights, At Thursday, September 25, 2025. The match played at Villa Park, in Europa League, UEFA.
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