Bologna’s hopes of progression at kick-off looked fanciful, but a strong start offered encouragement. Federico Bernardeschi forced the returning Emiliano Martinez into a save early on, while Jonathan Rowe looked particularly dangerous down the left.
He was marshalled well by Matty Cash, and Villa soon displayed their ruthless edge to take the lead on the night.
An intricate move through the middle saw Emiliano Buendia’s through ball find Morgan Rogers on the inside left, and he squared for Ollie Watkins to tap in his 100th goal for the club, while he also became the first Villa player to ever net 10 major European goals.
Rogers’ curled effort needed saving by Federico Ravaglia in the immediate aftermath of the opener, and the Bologna stopper thwarted the Villa talisman again from the penalty spot on the 25-minute mark, making a strong save down to his right after Martin Vitik had handled Lucas Digne’s cross to concede the spot-kick.
Undeterred, Villa caught Bologna cold from a throw-in moments after that save, with Digne’s delivery controlled brilliantly by Buendia on the dead-ball line, before he cut inside and beat the goalkeeper at his near post.
Ravaglia’s near post was breached again in the 39th minute by a determined Rogers, who lasered an effort past his nemesis of the night to end a 12-game goal drought for club and country.
That strike well and truly put the tie to bed, and though Vincenzo Italiano desperately tried to inject some energy into his dejected side with a triple change at the break, the second half was a cruise for Villa.
The hosts very rarely ventured forward in the second period, yet they still managed to add a fourth through Ezri Konsa’s brilliant volley on the turn.
This result marks a sixth successive home clean sheet against Italian opposition in major European competition, while Bologna bow out of Europe with a sixth consecutive away defeat against an English side, three of which have come against Villa.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
