Aston Villa took control of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Bologna, as England stars Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins fired Unai Emery's side to a 3-1 first-leg win in Italy.

Villa were given a real scare by the Serie A side though, and should have been behind in the first half. Bologna were on a 20-game unbeaten European run at home and playing in their first ever continental quarter-final, their spirit was initially overpowering the Premier League side.

A Konsa own goal from Sanatiago Castro's cross was ruled out by VAR for a very tight offside on the Bologna forward, before the hosts then struck the woodwork through Lewis Ferguson - who turned the excellent Jonathan Rowe's cross onto the bar.

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But against the run of play, Villa put themselves into a comfortable scoreline with goals either side of half-time - thanks to some poor Bologna defending.

First, goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia needlessly came out for a Youri Tielemans' corner and failed to get there, allowing Konsa to head home into an empty net.

And it was worse after the break, as a similarly needless cross-field pass out the back was pressed by Emiliano Buendia, and the loose ball broke to Watkins - who tucked home a finish for his third goal in five games. A strong response to being left out of the England team.

However, Bologna provided reminders that they need attention in the second leg, particularly through England Under-21s international Rowe. He set up Federico Bernardeschi to strike the post from close range, before seeing a top corner effort saved by Emiliano Martinez.

Rowe, formerly of Norwich City, got his reward on 90 minutes, as he smashed a finish from a similar area past Martinez, to make things interesting in Birmingham next week. But Watkins would have the last laugh as he snuck home a corner with the last kick of the game.

Next Thursday will still determine everything, but Villa are halfway there to the Europa League semi-finals.

Watkins: I'm hungry, but we got lucky today

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins to TNT Sports:

"First half, they were putting us under a lot of pressure. They were dominating the game - and we got lucky. At half-time I said to the boys: 'Come on, we've got to wake up'. We got lucky they scored a disallowed goal. If that turns, and it stayed 1-0, it would have bene a long way back for us. It was a great atmosphere and they played tough today. But we got lucky.

"We got the goal from the set piece, which took the sting out of the game. It's a great time to score as they were dominating. Then we got the second goal, from there it looked like we were going to score more.

"Back end of the season, I'm raring to go. I could play another 90 minutes right now. I'm excited for the last few games, next week again against these. I'm hungry.

"Their winger was causing all sorts of problems tonight. 2-1? It's all to play for. So that goal at the end takes the sting out the game. A two-goal lead going back to Villa Park, we're going to make it tough for them."

Analysis: Emery has another Europa-winning squad

Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

You just cannot fail to back Unai Emery in these situations. Once he gets to the latter stages of the Europa League, they just never slip up.

Even when Villa were playing badly here, as Bologna dominated the first 30 minutes, you just knew Emery's side could find a way. Part of the Emery blueprint for Europa League success is accepting the struggling and the suffering, before just making the big moments count. They conceded 19 shots in Italy, but won 3-1.

Once Villa got in front through their efficient set piece machine, they were never letting it go. That Konsa goal breathed life into the team.

Morgan Rogers threatened heavily with runs from deep, no player attempted more dribbles than the highly-talked-about transfer target. Ollie Watkins started being the all-round centre-forward - showing clinical finishing and excellent hold-up play. He created two big chances as well as scoring two goals.

John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia were dangerous in the pockets. But the real reason why all those players succeeded? Youri Tielemans.

Back in the Villa starting XI for the first time since January, he created four chances - more than any other player, three of them being big chances. His metronomic display gave more confidence to those further forward that they can attack.

On the last five occasions in which an Emery side has reached the Europa League quarter-finals, they have reached the final every time, winning the whole tournament on four of those occasions. It looks like Emery has another winning team in this Villa side.

Emery: Villa were shy in first half

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery:

"I'm happy that we're getting balance in everything. The first leg, we have won, which is fantastic. How we did the 90 minutes, I can feel good for some things, not good for another way.

"Maybe the first half we were a little bit shy, we needed more passes to try to get to positions in attacking third. We were losing the ball easy.

"We were not conceding a lot, but we had a few momentums we conceded. They scored one goal with an offside so tight. Set pieces is always important but today it was a priority offensively and defensively. We knew before the match that they should be one way to try to get something. It could happen in the first half.

"The result from the first half was better than the match we played. Not brilliant. The second half we started fantastic, for 20 to 25 minutes we dominated, stopping them - like we planned the game in the first half but didn't do. We more or less controlled the match, feeling comfortable. They scored one goal, but even that we reacted fantastic. The last corner, we scored. A very good result.

"The second leg, they will try to suppress us. So we need to keep playing the second leg. We need to have a new plan."

Story of the match in stats

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