London, April 10: Ollie Watkins scored twice and Aston Villa beat Bologna 3-1 to move a step closer to the Europa League semifinals with its eighth straight victory in the competition on Thursday.
Ezri Konsa scored the opening goal of the quarterfinal first leg just before interval, heading home Youri Tielemans’ curling corner kick.
Watkins doubled the lead early in the second half with a shot between the legs of goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia.
Jonathan Rowe reduced the deficit to one for host Bologna in the final minute before Watkins added his second in stoppage time.
Villa has reached the last eight in Europe for the third straight year and is fourth in the Premier League, on course to qualify for the Champions League next season.
The return legs take place next Thursday.
Porto held by Forest
In a matchup of former European champions, Nottingham Forest took home a promising 1-1 draw from Porto.Porto transformed early pressure into a goal after William Gomes tapped in a low cross from Gabriel Veiga.It was all square just two minutes later when Porto’s Martim Fernandes equalized with an own goal. The right back was almost at the center line when he sent a pass back to Diogo Costa but the goalkeeper was out of position and the ball ended up in the net.
Forest failed to score despite a return of striker Chris Wood from injury to the staring lineup for the first time since October.Before the two meet at the City Ground in the second leg next week, relegation-threatened Forest hosts Villa in another crucial Premier League game on Sunday.In the league phase, Forest beat Porto 2-0 at home.
Freiburg flying
Freiburg made the most of its first quarterfinal game in European competitions by beating Celta Vigo 3-0.
In a dream start, captain Vincenzo Grifo fired Freiburg ahead in the 10th minute, and Jan-Niklas Beste doubled the advantage in the first half.
Matthias Ginter finished the scoring in the second half.
Crystal Palace win in Conference League
In the quarterfinal first leg between two of the favorites of the third-tier competition, Crystal Palace beat Fiorentina 3-0. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaila Sarr all found the net at Selhurst Park.
As the dust settled on a night filled with drama, precision and moments of individual brilliance, Aston Villa once again underlined why they are fast emerging as one of Europe’s most compelling forces this season.
Spearheaded by the clinical instincts of Ollie Watkins, whose brace combined finesse with composure, Villa not only seized control of the tie but also sent a strong message to the rest of the competition — that this is a side brimming with belief, rhythm and an unrelenting hunger for silverware.
Yet, even as Villa march forward with authority, the broader narrative of the night remained beautifully poised. Nottingham Forest showed resilience away from home, Freiburg announced their arrival on the big European stage with a statement victory, while Crystal Palace stamped their credentials as serious contenders in the Conference League with a commanding display.
And still, as is often the case in European football, nothing is ever quite decided after the first leg.
The return fixtures loom large, carrying with them the weight of expectation, the tension of fine margins, and the promise of high-stakes drama.
For now, Villa may hold the advantage, but the road to the semifinals remains treacherous, unpredictable and utterly captivating — much like the beautiful game itself, where one moment can rewrite the script, and where destiny often waits until the very last whistle to reveal its hand. (AP)
