Aston Villa’s exhilarating Champions League campaign shows no signs of slowing down as they celebrated Unai Emery’s second anniversary in charge by storming to the top of the league phase with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bologna at a buzzing Villa Park.
The night was ignited by captain John McGinn, the club’s longest-serving player, who scored the opener straight from a free-kick in the 55th minute. The set-piece, delivered with pinpoint accuracy from a wide position, evaded players on both sides, slipping past Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and into the back of the net. The Italians felt aggrieved, claiming they were denied a free-kick moments earlier by Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro.
Villa quickly doubled their lead nine minutes later through Jhon Duran, who marked his first start at Villa Park in nearly a year with a close-range finish, firing home his seventh goal of the season. Duran, however, was visibly frustrated when he was substituted for Ollie Watkins immediately after his goal, kicking a seat in the dugout as he exited.
With this victory, Aston Villa now boasts nine points from three matches, having previously defeated Swiss side Young Boys and European heavyweights Bayern Munich. Emery’s side continues to dazzle on their return to Europe’s elite competition, leaving fans dreaming of what’s to come as they seek to make their mark on the continental stage.
