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

By Sunny Badwal, Press Association

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 7th.

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