Vincenzo Italiano(Image: Getty Images)

Vincenzo Italiano admits Bologna's plan on Thursday night will be to keep the second leg alive against Aston Villa.

The Italian club beat AS Roma 5-4 on aggregate in the round of 16, after managing a stunning 4-3 win in the second leg at their Serie A rivals.

Villa, meanwhile, defeated Lille 3-0 on aggregate, and are considered by many as the favourites to win the Europa League this season.

With Roma defeated by Bologna, and Lyon losing to Celta Vigo, many view Villa's chances of winning the competition as improved, though the ease with which those sides were eliminated should serve as a stark warning.

Bologna will host Villa on the back of returning from the March international break with a 2-1 win over Cremonese at the weekend, and Italiano is now looking forward to competing against Villa for the second time this season, having already stunned Roma.

"A great achievement, and we're proud to continue in this competition against teams with such history and prestige,” he told DAZN about the club’s progress in Europe.

“We know Aston Villa, and they're a strong...