BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) – Aston Villa traveled to Italy to face Bologna in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday.
Villa have advanced to Europe’s top eight for the third year in a row. They sit fourth in the Premier League and are on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Bologna defeated fellow Serie A side Roma, one of the favorites, in extra time in the round of 16, advancing to their first quarter-final of a European tournament.
Bologna and Villa faced each other in the opening game of the league match, with the Premier League club winning 1-0, and they also met in last season’s Champions League. Aston Villa then won 2-0. Both games were played at Villa Park, with captain John McGinn scoring in both games.
Another English club, Nottingham Forest, will play away to Porto in a clash between two former European champions.
Porto reached the European quarter-finals for the first time since 2014, while Forest returned to Europe for the first time in 30 years this season.
In the league match, Forest defeated Porto 2-0 at the City Ground.
Freiburg hosts Spanish team Celta Vigo after becoming the first Bundesliga team to reach the quarter-finals in Europe. Celta are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the second time after losing in the last four to Manchester United in 2017.
In the Conference League, Crystal Palace will host Fiorentina in London, and the first leg will be played between the two favorites to win the Third Division.
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