Aston Villa will take a two-goal lead back to Birmingham for their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bologna after a 3-1 win in Italy.

Ezri Konsa opened the scoring in the first half, before Ollie Watkins punished Bologna after the break. Jonathan Rowe, who was the best player on the pitch, halved the Italian club's deficit late on, but Watkins popped up with his second to restore a crucial two-goal lead.

Villa have now won 14 of their last 16 European matches, including their last eight in a row - the longest winning streak in the club's history.

Unai Emery’s side started slowly and were fortunate not to fall behind in the first 30 minutes of the tie. Bologna had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR after Johnathan Rowe beat Matty Cash to the ball and played it to Santiago Castro, whose cross was then deflected over the line off Konsa.

Moments after the goal was disallowed, Rowe continued to cause problems down the left and pulled the ball across the box for Lewis...