Published: 22:03, 9 April 2026 | Updated: 22:03, 9 April 2026

Buckle up. This victory began a run of six matches that could define Aston Villa’s season and Unai Emery seems determined to go full throttle in every single one.

Goals either side of half time from Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins put Villa on the brink of the Europa League semi-finals and though Bologna rallied through Jonathan Rowe, Watkins restored their two-goal lead with virtually the last kick of the game. On Sunday they travel to Nottingham Forest before tackling Bologna in the second leg. Then there are meetings with Sunderland and Fulham, leading into a probable semi-final, against either Porto or Forest.

Yet where Forest can afford to rotate their squad in Europe, many of the Villa players who started this game may play all six. Emi Martinez, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Konsa and Watkins will surely be required in every one, with Emery’s options from the bench relatively limited. Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey have to yet to find top form in their second spells at Villa, while Emery...