Unai Emery's Aston Villa won 2-0 against Italian side Bologna in their third Champions League match of 2024-25 on Tuesday night, making it three victories from three in the competition.
John McGinn opened the scoring in the 55th minute as he curled a free kick into the penalty area from near the touchline on right of the pitch, but his cross missed everyone in the box and instead bounced into the far corner.
Villa doubled their lead in the 64th minute thanks to Jhon Duran, who managed to evade his marker in the penalty area and flick on Morgan Rogers's delivery across the face of goal and into the far corner.
The result leaves the host in first place with nine points in the league table of Europe's premier competition, three points ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Bologna remain on one point in 28th place, though they are only two points from a round of 16 playoff spot with five games left to play.
Villa had the better of the first half and could have taken the lead through McGinn, who tried to guide the ball into the bottom-right corner from just inside box in the 24th minute.
Whether McGinn meant to score from his free kick is debatable, but the Scotsman will not care considering his strike opened the game up and lifted the tension around Villa Park.
Duran continued his hot streak in front of goal, netting his seventh goal for hosts this season with his final touch of the ball before being substituted, though he will have to thank Rogers for an excellent pass into the penalty area.
ASTON VILLA VS. BOLOGNA HIGHLIGHTS
John McGinn goal vs. Bologna (55th min, Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna)
Deadlock broken 🔓
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2024
John McGinn's free-kick fires Aston Villa ahead 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/tjOjITip1G
Talk about announcing yourself on your return from injury! Villa skipper McGinn sends in a free kick from the right, which evades everyone, bounces once and deceives the goalkeeper en route to the bottom corner.
Jhon Duran goal vs. Bologna (64th min, Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna)
IT JUST HAD TO BE HIM! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2024
Jhon Durán with a strikers finish to double Aston Villa's lead 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ECuzKIsiwD
That man again. Villa have the points in the bag as Jhon Duran hooks the ball into the far corner from Morgan Rogers's cross.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JHON DURAN
© Imago
Jhon Duran might have only started twice for Aston Villa this season, but his performances this term and on Tuesday night will no doubt worry Ollie Watkins.
The Colombian pounced in the box for his goal in the 64th minute, showcasing his ability as a poacher in the final third and perhaps staking his claim for a starting spot.
Duran produced five shots, won three of his five aerial duels and managed to get two of his shots on target, the joint most of any player on the pitch.
ASTON VILLA VS. BOLOGNA MATCH STATS
Possession: Aston Villa 53%-47% Bologna
Shots: Aston Villa 16-12 Bologna
Shots on target: Aston Villa 6-4 Bologna
Corners: Aston Villa 5-4 Bologna
Fouls: Aston Villa 13-9 Bologna
BEST STATS
Only three sides have won their first three Champions League games without conceding in the #UCL era:
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 22, 2024
◎ Malaga (2012/13)
◎ Leicester City (2016/17)
◉ Aston Villa (2024/25)
The perfect start. 💯 pic.twitter.com/Y6QXXBOoua
Morgan Rogers G/A for Aston Villa:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) October 22, 2024
5 — This season
4 — All of last season pic.twitter.com/iN2TkJi1o6
WHAT NEXT?
Aston Villa are set to host Bournemouth on Saturday, and they will play their next match in the Champions League on November 6 against Club Brugge.
As for Bologna, they will welcome AC Milan on Saturday and look to win for just the second time in nine Serie A matches, and they will face Monaco in their next Champions League game on November 5.
Lewis Nolan
