Vincenzo Italiano warns Bologna will present ‘much less respect’ to Aston Villa than final season within the Champions League after they meet once more within the Europa League tomorrow.
It kicks off at Villa Park on Thursday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
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These sides already met final time period within the Champions League opening section, to objectives from John McGinn and Jhon Duran.
That was their first European event for a few years, however this time Italiano assures they are going to be higher ready.
“Already figuring out the ambiance we’re going into will likely be an added bonus,”
“It’ll be fiery within the stands and we face a powerful opponent that basically impressed me final season. Nonetheless, we should attempt to benefit from the expertise we gained final 12 months, beginning on the precise foot, as our goal is to get via the primary section of this competitors.”
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Bologna getting used to European soccer
BOLOGNA, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna celebrates with teammate Nadir Zortea after scoring his staff’s first aim through the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Como 1907 at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Pictures)
After they had been within the Champions League final season, Bologna had been eradicated within the first league section, however went on to win the Coppa Italia and due to this fact qualify for the Europa League.
“We misplaced just a few huge gamers who gave us a lot final time period, so it takes time to get the brand new one totally settled in with completely different tactical ideas that they’re accustomed to. We’ve already began to see extra high quality within the passing, and hope to create extra strikes like those we noticed final season.”
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Italiano is assured that Bologna have realized quite a bit from their step into European soccer on the highest stage for the Champions League.
“Final 12 months we had been too timid, too respectful in direction of our opponents, however as we gained confidence, we began to enhance the performances and produce dwelling factors.
“There are high quality groups within the Europa League too, however right here I really feel we’ve what it takes to undergo to the following section. We earned this tour de power, and now we’ve bought to get pleasure from it.”
Federico Bernardeschi enjoying for Bologna (bolognafc.it)
The fixture listing will likely be much more packed for Bologna, as a result of they’re additionally within the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh in December, as Coppa Italia winners.
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They’re additionally coping with damage issues, abandoning Ciro Motionless, Tommaso Pobega, Ibrahim Sulemana and Nicolò Casale.
In the meantime, Kevin Bonifazi, Benjamin Dominguez and Lorenzo De Silvestri aren’t on the UEFA listing.
Bologna squad for Aston Villa: Pessina, Ravaglia, Skorupski; Heggem, Holm, Lucumi, Lykogiannis, Miranda, Vitik, Zortea; Fabbian, Ferguson, Freuler, Moro; Bernardeschi, Cambiaghi, Castro, Dallinga, Odgaard, Orsolini, Rowe