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Emery has won the Europa League four times with Sevilla and Villarreal, as well as reaching the final during his ill-fated spell in charge of Arsenal in 2019.
It’s a testament to the seriousness with which he takes the competition, in addition to the mastery that the Spaniard has in preparing his teams for two-legged knockout football.
Despite being in a battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League, you sense that Emery will prepare his Aston Villa players to win the Europa League this term… and they certainly have the quality to do exactly that.
Bologna sit a lowly eighth in the Italian Serie A, but they’ve won five of their last seven domestic games and defeated a decent Roma outfit over two legs in the Europa League Round of 16.
So, write Bologna off at your peril…
Bologna v Aston Villa Tips
Under 2.5 Goals @ 4/5 (bet365)
Both Teams to Score - No @ 19/20 (bet365)
Corners Race to 7 - Neither @ 8/13 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
No Appetite for Risk
Of the eight Round of 16 ties played in this competition, seven of the first legs witnessed two goals or fewer.
It reminds us of the betting mindset for the first meeting of these big two-legged games: cagey, conservative and no risk football all the kinds of adjectives that can be used.
Villa won 1-0 in Lille in the first leg of their last 16 clash, which saw the two sides combine for a total xG of just 0.94.
Bologna’s first leg with Roma was somewhat more adventurous, but even so it was goalless at half-time before ending 1-1.
So, Under 2.5 Goals seems a fair enough way to get us started.
Tip: Under 2.5 Goals @ 4/5 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if the game has two or fewer goals scored.
Untroubling the Scorers
That’s a concept we can continue into our second selection as well.
Bologna have conceded only 37 goals in 31 Serie A appearances, and in seven of their eight Europa League opening phase games they either kept a clean sheet or conceded once.
You suspect that Villa will be set up perfectly by Emery for this clash – compact, diligent and organised in a mid block… as they were when winning 1-0 in Lille in this competition.
And if we need any more encouragement, you can cast your mind back to the opening round of Europa League matches in September: Villa beating Bologna 1-0 on home soil.
Tip: Both Teams to Score - No @ 19/20 (bet365)
Explanation: Our bet lands if one, or both, of the teams fails to get on the scoresheet.
No Drama
If we’re tipping a tight and cagey affair, that in turn would lend itself to a lack of activity in the final third of the pitch at both ends.
It’s hard to predict either side monopolising the ball and dominating territory, so this selection feels somewhat safe.
Usually, for a team to win seven or more corners, they need to be the dominant force within the contest – and that doesn’t feel like the most likely outcome here.
Tip: Corners Race to 7 - Neither @ 8/13 (bet365)
Explanation: Both teams have to have six or fewer corners each for this bet to land.
Bologna v Aston Villa: Match result odds
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.