Aston Villa set up an all-English Europa League semi-final with Nottingham Forest after completing a commanding 7-1 aggregate victory against Bologna at Villa Park.
Already 3-1 up from the first leg, tournament favourites Villa produced a statement display under four-time Europa League-winning manager Unai Emery to take another step closer to ending a 30-year trophy drought.
It only took the Premier League side 16 minutes to increase their advantage in the tie as Ollie Watkins – the star of the first leg – applied the finishing touch on a wonderful team move to score his 100th goal for the club in all competitions.
Morgan Rogers then had his spot-kick saved by Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia after Martin Vitik’s handball inside the box but Villa pulled away further 44 seconds later through Emiliano Buendia.
With the Bologna defence switching off, Buendia latched on to Lucas Digne’s long throw and slotted past Ravaglia for his second goal in Europe this season.
Rogers then put the disappointment of his penalty miss behind him as he found the back of the net from a narrow angle with his weaker left foot after being found in space by his captain John McGinn – ending his 11-game goal drought.
Centre-back Ezri Konsa then added to his first-leg goal with an impressive volley on the turn following a corner to seal the victory in the 89th minute.
Villa’s third win over the Rossoblu at Villa Park in 18 months secured their second European semi-final in three seasons and a first all-English semi in Europe since Arsenal and Manchester United met in the 2008-09 Champions League.
The first leg of their last-four tie against Forest will be played in Nottingham on 30 April before the return leg in Birmingham on 7 May, while Portugal’s Braga face Bundesliga side Freiburg in the other semi-final.
