Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Aston Villa Secures Europa League Semi-Final with 4-0 Win

4/17/2026

38 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Aston Villa Triumphs

Aston Villa defeated Bologna 4-0 to win 7-1 on aggregate in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The victory secures an all-English semi-final against Nottingham Forest, with the first leg on April 30.
Ollie Watkins scored his 100th goal for Villa, setting the club's European total at 10 goals.
Emi Buendía scored after a missed penalty by Morgan Rogers, who later scored.
Ezri Konsa added a late goal to cap the scoring.

Summary

Emery Celebrates Semi-Final

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, called the Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest a special moment tied to both clubs’ histories as former European Cup winners.
Villa reached the semi-final by beating Bologna 4-0 to win 7-1 on aggregate.
Emery, a four-time Europa League winner, seeks a sixth final appearance and expresses excitement about the tie.
The first leg is on April 30, with the return on May 7.

History

Historical Context

Aston Villa's 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final marked a pivotal moment for English football, as it was the sixth consecutive year an English club won the tournament. This triumph, fueled by goalkeeper Nigel Spink's standout performance, solidified Villa's legacy. Today, their Europa League success against Bologna reflects the enduring significance of European competitions in shaping club identities and rivalries.

1 of 3

Aston Villa Triumphs

Aston Villa defeated Bologna 4-0 to win 7-1 on aggregate in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The victory secures an all-English semi-final against Nottingham Forest, with the first leg on April 30.
Ollie Watkins scored his 100th goal for Villa, setting the club's European total at 10 goals.
Emi Buendía scored after a missed penalty by Morgan Rogers, who later scored.
Ezri Konsa added a late goal to cap the scoring.

1 / 3