Aston Villa power into Europa League semi-finals with thumping win over Bologna

Aston Villa blew Bologna away with a trio of first-half goals as they roared into the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 4-0 victory, winning 7-1 on aggregate.

Unai Emery’s side cruised into a second European semi-final in three years to set up an all-Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest for a place in the final in Istanbul.

The Villa boss is an expert in this competition with four titles to his name and few would bet against him adding a fifth.

Villa brought a healthy 3-1 lead into the home leg of their last-eight clash and any hopes of an Italian revival were quickly snuffed out as the rampant hosts ran in three goals in the first period, starting with a lovely team effort which was rounded off by Ollie Watkins tapping in his 100th goal for the club.

Emi Buendia put Villa 2-0 ahead on the night just 46 seconds after Morgan Rogers saw a spot-kick saved, but the England international made amends for his penalty miss by putting Villa 3-0 up before the break with his first goal since February 7.

Ezri Konsa’s second goal of the tie wrapped up a convincing win late on.

Bologna were first to threaten, albeit in rather speculative fashion, as Federico Bernardeschi let fly from range with a swirling effort which looked like it might catch Emiliano Martinez out, but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

The visitors’ lively start was undone by a moment of team brilliance from Villa in the 16th minute.

Rogers linked up well with Buendia and received the ball back before slipping a pass across to Watkins, who was on hand to tap in his third goal of the tie.

Rogers was proving a menace, cutting inside before aiming a shot towards the far post which Federico Ravaglia tipped behind for a corner.

The hosts wanted a penalty when Rogers’ goal-bound header hit the raised arm of Martin Vitik and were belatedly given a spot-kick following a VAR review.

Rogers took responsibility but saw his effort saved down low by Ravaglia.

That did not stop Villa from doubling their lead less than a minute later, though.

The Italians were caught napping from a throw-in and Lucas Digne threw the ball straight into a free Buendia, who cut inside before dispatching a shot past Ravaglia at the near post.

The hosts were threatening to make it ugly as they notched a third six minutes before the break.

Villa carved Bologna apart as John McGinn picked out Rogers on the left and he had the space of Villa Park to smash a strike through Ravaglia at the near post.

The tie was all but over, but Bologna were still eager to give it a go after the break and Martinez was called into action to stop Nikola Moro’s effort from range.

Villa had their first shot of the half through Digne, who saw his effort saved by Ravaglia, but they still had time to get a fourth when a corner found its way to Konsa to convert in the final minute.