Aston Villa vs Bologna - Champions League: TV channel, prediction, team news and lineups

Can Aston Villa continue their perfect start to this Champions League campaign?

Aston Villa vs Bologna Preview

Can Aston Villa continue their perfect start to this Champions League campaign? Considering they have not competed in Europe's top-tier competition for over four decades, few could've expected the Claret and Blue Army to be sitting pretty on maximum points, now seeking a third successive victory.

Unai Emery's team swatted aside BSC Young Boys in Bern back on matchday one, before claiming, possibly, the most famous victory of their modern-history a fortnight later, with Jhon Durán's stunning strike ten minutes from time slaying Bayern Munich.

Thus, Villa are one of only seven sides currently sat on maximum points in this season's Champions League, knowing another victory here would all but secure their place in the knockout phase, even with five fixtures still to play.

At the weekend, the Villans continued their impressive start to the season overall, coming from a goal down to beat Fulham 3-1 on an eventful afternoon at Craven Cottage. Morgan Rogers equalised and Ollie Watkins also on target in West London, while Emi Martínez saved a penalty and then Jaden Philogene was sent off later on. Now, most make Villa favourites to pick up three points here too.

Bologna meantime are also making their own long-awaited Champions League return. Prior to this season, I Rossoblù had only ever featured in the European Cup once, this all the way back in 1964, dumped out by Anderlecht in the preliminary round by virtue of a coin toss, after a replay at Camp Nou ended goalless; how times have changed!

Well, six decades on, I Veltri are still searching for their first goal in this year's competition, held to a goalless draw in the pouring rain by Shakhtar Donetsk on opening night, before a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, in which Liverpool proved to be simply too strong.

In Serie A meanwhile, Vincenzo Italiano's team have won only one of eight games to date, albeit six have been draws, playing out an entertaining 2-2 stalemate with Genoa on Saturday, in which Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard were on target at the Luigi Ferraris.

Having seen their manager and two of their very best players depart during the summer, Bologna are nowhere near as strong as they were last season, making a home win at Villa Park the most-likely outcome.

Aston Villa vs Bologna Head-to-Head Record

These two clubs have never previously met.

Aston Villa Team News

Boubacar Kamara was back on the bench at the weekend, most-recently featuring on 11 February due to knee surgery. John McGinn meantime came off the bench for the closing stages at Craven Cottage, having been sidelined for four games, so could return to the starting lineup this time. Elsewhere, Ezri Konsa was an unused substitute at Fulham, having hobbled off early a fortnight earlier, so his fitness status is currently unknown. Lastly, given that he was booked during both Champions League fixtures so far, another caution here would see Jhon Durán sit out next month's trip to Brugge suspended.

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Bologna: (4-2-2-2): Martínez; Cash, Diego Carlos, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans, Ramsey, Bailey; Rogers, Watkins.

Aston Villa Player to Watch vs Bologna

Ollie Watkins bagged his fourth goal of the season at the weekend, so can he now open his Champions League account, once again leading the line, chosen over super-sub and hero of the victory against Bayern Munich Jhon Durán?

Bologna Team News

Vincenzo Italiano travels to Birmingham with a depleted squad. Club captain Lewis Ferguson is sidelined long-term, Martin Erlić, Michel Aebischer, Oussama El Azzouzi, Dan Ndoye and Nicolò Cambiaghi are all injured as well, while Samuel Iling-Junior is eligible to take on his parent club, although a knee injury will prevent him from doing so. Łukasz Skorupski is set to return in goal, after Federico Ravaglia was handed a rare start at the weekend, while Remo Freuler, briefly of Nottingham Forest, will be donning the armband.

Bologna predicted lineup vs Aston Villa: (4-3-3): Skorupski; Posch, Lucumí, Beukema, Miranda; Urbański, Freuler, Odgaard; Orsolini, Domínguez, Castro.

Bologna Player to Watch vs Aston Villa

Ezio Pascutti and Harald Nielsen, born in 1937 and 1941 respectively, are currently the only Bologna players to have ever scored in the European Cup. Top-scorer Santiago Castro is the most-likely man to change this fact, having found the net during three in his last five Serie A appearances.

Aston Villa vs Bologna Prediction

As referenced, we're backing Aston Villa for victory in this one. Emery's team have been so strong this season, especially in the Champions League, while Bologna have lost each of their last four visits to Britain, a streak we're confident will continue at Villa Park: Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna.

Aston Villa vs Bologna FAQs - Champions League

How to watch Aston Villa vs Bologna Champions League game on TV channel?

Aston Villa vs Bologna Champions League game will be available on the following TV channels;

• UK: TNT Sports 1 & TNT Sports Ultimate.

• USA: Paramount+, FuboTV, ViX & CBS Sports Network.

• Canada: DAZN Canada

How to watch Aston Villa vs Bologna Champions League game on live streaming?

Aston Villa vs Bologna Champions League game will be available on the following streaming services;

• UK: discovery+

• USA: Paramount+, FuboTV, ViX & CBS Sports Network.

• Canada: DAZN Canada

What is the date and kick-off time for Aston Villa vs Bologna in the Champions League?

Aston Villa vs Bologna takes place on Tuesday 22 October 2024, with kick off at 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PDT).

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