Final result: Aston Villa – Bologna 2-0
ASTON VILLA (by Antonino Sergi)
Martinez 6.5 – Saved by the post at the end but in the only great opportunity of the first half he was ready, blocking Dallinga who had presented himself face to face after a few minutes of play.
Konsa 6 – He suffers at the start from Ndoye’s first offensive outbursts, then he takes the measure of the Swiss and closes in crescendo. Only one risk when in the final Beukema is lost and hits the post.
Diego Carlos 6.5 – Dallinga tries to mock him in the first few minutes of the match, then the Brazilian takes measures and plays ahead of Italiano’s center forward. It becomes a miss match for the Dutch striker.
Pau Torres 6 – Emery’s trusted man does not betray the coach, always clean in his interventions. No flaw, it must be said that he is also not very busy from Bologna’s forwards.
Maatsen 6.5 – Containing Orsolini this evening is child’s play, Bologna’s seven is uninspired and the Dutch full-back isn’t running any big risks. In the left chain he is always present to accompany the offensive action.
Onana 6 – Good performance, lots of running in the middle of the field in a fairly intense first half. He leaves the directing duties to Tielemans, his battle partner when the pace picks up.
From 46′ Barkley 6 – He comes in, gets a yellow card but brings order to the traffic.
Tielemans 7 – Of struggle but above all of government, leader of Unai Emery’s midfield. He carries the ball, he passes the ball, always with his head held high. A factor in the middle of the pitch, his trajectories from set pieces are fearsome.
From 79′ Kamara sv.
Bailey 6 – He tries to light up, when he does he also manages to put Lykogiannis in difficulty. He lacks the right continuity within the match but his performance is sufficient. He comes close to scoring at the start of the second half.
From 66′ Philogene 6 – He enters the game well, even tries two shots.
Rogers 6.5 – The link between midfield and attack, it is difficult to take the ball away from him given the great leverage. He lights up more in the second half of the game, serving the winning assist for Duran.
McGinn 7 – Across the board, the captain is a diesel this evening. It starts at a small trot, then slowly begins to propose itself on the trocar. You find him everywhere, then he’s also lucky on the free kick that deceives Skorupski and breaks the deadlock. From 66′ Ramsey 6 – The good work of my comrade continues.
Duran 7 – Emery’s Champions League strike, second consecutive goal after the one against Bayern Munich. He flirts with the goal in the first half, pushes himself in front and is rewarded in the second half. He reads Rogers’ ball better than Lucumi and doesn’t forgive, like a true attacker. From 66′ Watkins 6 – He enters with his forward by two, underserved.
Unai Emery 7 – Nine points out of nine available, six goals scored and zero conceded. Aston Villa is the great protagonist of this Champions League, confirming itself as a solid and well-placed team. He took a risk at the start, then took the measure against Bologna and struck in the second half. He gets all the moves right.
BOLOGNA (by Dimitri Conti)
Skorupski 6.5 – There was little work until the first half added time, then it was time to get the gloves dirty. Even down two goals he makes his contribution.
Posch 5 – At the start of the second half he had the ball on his right foot to break the deadlock, but he kicked very badly. In hindsight, a significant mistake.
Beukema 6.5 – Armband, he must act as a guide for his teammates at Villa Park. Applied in defensive work, he also came close to scoring a goal late on.
Lights 5 – All very well until the 64th minute, when his compatriot Duran mocks him as he would a child and scores the 2-0 goal.
Lykogiannis 6 – He starts without exaggerating with the pushes in the lane, as the minutes go by he advances more and more. In the final he serves two excellent balls.
Fabbian 5.5 – At the start he seems to behave like a leader, carrying out several transitions alone but when Aston Villa increases the tone, it is less visible.
Freuler 6 – Called to provide experience and certainty to the midfield department, he does not miss his presence, even on a vocal level. It’s not enough.
Urbanski 5.5 – It is he who inaugurates, with little precision, Bologna’s attempts towards Martinez’s goal. However, he remains too remote from the game.
From 68′ Moro 5.5 – When he is thrown in, the situation is already quite compromised. He has no means or inspiration to reverse the outcomes.
Orsolini 5.5 – His game in Birmingham lasts just a while. Applied in the defensive phase, however, he is not hungry for the balls in the final metres.
From 46′ Odgaard 5 – For a good half hour no one remembers his takeover. In the final quarter of an hour, he is simply not dangerous.
Dallinga 5 – All of Bologna awaits his goal in glory, at Villa Park he has two ideal balls to do so but he doesn’t use them. Another empty lap for the Dutchman.
From 68′ Castro 5.5 – In Bologna’s complicated start to the season he has often been a resource for getting out of trouble. Not at Villa Park.
Ndoye 6 – Great start, Bologna’s first initiatives all come from him. In the long run, however, its performance drops, as does its danger.
From 78′ Iling Junior sv.
Vincenzo Italian 5.5 – Bologna wants to replicate Liverpool’s performance, perhaps with another final result, and approaches the match well. However, he doesn’t take advantage of the good balls to score and, once the Villans’ first is conceded, he melts away. Shortly afterwards comes the 2-0 and the feeling that the match is over half an hour early. Then confirmed.