Key events
First half
The referee, José María Sánchez of Spain, gets us under way. Villa are in their traditional claret and blue, with Bologna in white away shirts.
The players are in the tunnel, with captains McGinn and Ferguson enjoying some pre-match patter. Villa fans have unveiled what I can only describe as a Renaissance-themed tifo. It’s bubbling up nicely.
Some pre-game thoughts from Unai Emery: “We got a good result [in Bologna], but it’s not done. It’s going to be difficult, we respect them, but we are confident with our great supporters behind us.”
He adds that experience of near misses – losing to Olympiakos in the semi-finals, finishing sixth in the league last term – is galvanising his players. “Of course, Champions League is the best gift we can achieve. We are excited, we are motivated.”
As dozens of TV ads paid for by bookmakers relentlessly advise me to take a break from betting, I can report that it’s finished Celta 1-3 Freiburg (1-6 on agg) in the Europa League, and AZ 2-2 Shakhtar (2-5 on agg) in the Conference League.
I noticed on the team sheets that both of tonight’s captains are Scottish: John McGinn and Lewis Ferguson. Has this ever happened before in a European tie – particularly one not featuring a Scottish team? Hey, it’s like a live Knowledge, this. Just don’t ask me anything.
In tonight’s early game, Freiburg are cruising into the semi-finals – after winning 3-0 at home to Celta Vigo last week, they’re repeating the trick in Spain to lead 6-0 on aggregate. The Bundesliga side will face either Real Betis or Braga in the final four.
In the Conference League, AZ have just levelled to make it 1-1 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk; sadly for the hosts, they lost the first leg 3-0, so are very much heading out. Shakhtar will face Crystal Palace in the semis unless Fiorentina can pull off a spectacular comeback from three goals down in Italy this evening.
Team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn (c), Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.
Subs from: Bizot, Wright, Lindelöf, Mings, Elliott, García, Abraham, Sancho, Douglas Luíz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
Bologna (4-3-3): Ravaglia; João Mario, Vitik, Casale, Miranda; Freuler, Moro, Ferguson (c); Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe.
Subs from: Pessina, Franceschelli, Pobega, Orsolini, Heggem, Zortea, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Sohm, Cambiaghi, Castaldo.
Preamble
Much like one of those old-timey “choose your own adventure” stories, Aston Villa have two clear paths to the Champions League. Unlike said books, there appears to be little immediate peril on either route.
Villa are seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League, and got the job in this tie more than halfway done in the first leg in Italy. Get through tonight and Porto or Nottingham Forest (!) await in the semi-finals, while mid-table Sunderland and Fulham are up next in the league.
Top-five finish or a European trophy? Maybe Unai Emery can have it all, but for now, he has to keep managing tired legs and taking each game as it comes. Villa remain under the radar, but a hugely impressive double achievement is getting closer with every result. Kick-off: 8pm BST.
