Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano(Image: Getty Images)

Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano insists his team must "play a perfect game" to beat Aston Villa on Thursday night.

The Serie A side have lost twice to Villa in the past 18 months, including earlier this season at Villa Park in the Europa League, but defeated AS Roma 5-4 on aggregate in the round of 16 stage.

Bologna's home form has been poor in recent months, winning just twice in 14 games and losing half of those, but they are unbeaten in 11 matches in the Europa League.

“Anything can happen over 180 minutes,” Italiano said. “We know Villa’s strengths and weaknesses. We were able to test this in the games we played before. What we know is that this is a tough team, which does really well in the Premier League.

“They play with the same principles, they are strong, and they have amazing individual players. It’s a team with great value, and we will have to play a perfect game to win.

“If you look at the football that they put into practice, especially in terms of set-pieces, it tells you...