Aston Villa will host Serie A side Bologna at Villa Park in their first match of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League on September 25.
Villa have made a disappointing start to the 2025/26 campaign and are yet to secure their first win. The club rank 18th in the Premier League with three points from five matches. They also faced an early elimination from the Carabao Cup after losing 4-2 on penalties against Brentford last week.
Bologna, meanwhile, are 11th in the Serie A table with six points after two wins and two losses.
Aston Villa and Bologna have faced each other only once in a Champions League group-stage game last season, where the Premier League side bagged a 2-0 victory at Villa Park. We're backing a similar result in our match prediction for Thursday's game.
Aston Villa vs. Bologna lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Amid his squad's struggles to attain favourable results, Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery expressed disapproval about his players' efforts on the pitch. During a press conference after their 1-1 draw with Sunderland in the league, the Spanish manager said: "I told them the same thing I am telling you. We have to recover our identity. Of course, we have to try to recover our personality, confidence and personality to play. I am frustrated for how we played, how we are not feeling comfortable with our style."
Villa will be missing Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans due to their respective injuries. Boubacar Kamara is reportedly back from injury, but his immediate return to the pitch against Bologna has been deemed too early.
After his candid criticism, Emery is expected to make changes to his lineup in their Europa League opener in hopes of leading them to their first victory of the season.
Aston Villa predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen — Bogarde, McGinn — Elliott, Rogers, Sancho — Watkins
Injured: Onana (hamstring), Tielemans (calf), Kamara (fitness, doubt)
Suspended: None
Bologna have about four outstanding injuries in their squad: Ciro Immobile, Ibrahim Sulemana, Tommaso Pobega, and Nicolo Casale.
The Italian club have also omitted their regular right-back Lorenzo De Silvestri from their Europa League squad list.
Bologna predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Skorupski (GK) — Zortea, Vitik, Lucumi, Miranda — Freuler, Ferguson — Orsolini, Odgaard, Rowe — Castro
Injured: Immobile (hamstring), Sulemana (ligament tear), Pobega (hamstring), Casale (hamstring)
Suspended: None
Aston Villa vs. Bologna match details
- Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
- Kickoff timing: 8 p.m. BST
- Location: Villa Park, Birmingham (England)
- Competition: UEFA Europa League league phase matchday 1
- Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
- VAR: Cesar Soto Grado (ESP)