Champions League 2024-2025: Aston Villa-Bologna, the likely lineups

The probable lineups

Three weeks after the historic trip to Anfield, Bologna return to England but this time they head to Birmingham, where at Villa Park they will face Aston Villa in the third day of the single group stage of the new Champions League. Not an easy challenge for Vincenzo Italiano’s men, against a team fresh off two successes in as many cup matches.

Coached by Basque Unai Emery, the Villans are a historical reality that has been able to regain a European dimension, although their only continental successes at first-team level are the 1981/1982 Champions Cup, the Uefa Super Cup won a few months later and the Intertototo successfully concluded in 2001. On the field, the Claret and Blue will go down with two midfielders, Onana and Tielemans, and three elements in support of the striker, namely; Bailey, Rogers and McGinn behind Watkins.

Bologna, on the other hand, is looking for its first ever success in Europe’s top competition since 1964, when the Felsinians beat Anderlecht in the return match the "Anderlecht (useless victory becauseé after the "bella", which ended 0-0, the coin toss smiled on the Belgians. Italiano, to regain his smile even after the Marassi mockery (from 2-0 to 2-2), bets on Dallinga up front, supported by Orsolini, Urbanski and Ndoye.

Aston Villa-Bologna, likely lineups

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins. All. Emery.

BOLOGNA (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumí, Lykogiannis; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Urbanski, Ndoye; Dallinga. All. Italiano.