Aston Villa vs Bologna live: Score and latest updates from ...

A strong challenge from Lucumi as he dispossesses Rogers and drives towards the Villa box. 

Lykogiannis gains possession and attempts a weak shot from the left but it soars across the goal line and doesn’t trouble Martinez.

Bologna have faded slightly in this second half, but are still showing their resolve. 

Castro cuts in from the left and attempts a shot but it is deflected away.

As things stand, Villa are currently top of the Champions League table. 

An incredible feat by Emery’s side in their return to the European competition.

Rogers is desperate for a goal - and deserves one for his fine performance tonight. 

He pops up in a dangerous area but his finish from 20 yards curls just over the bar.

Duran’s final touch is his goal, as Emery quickly rings the changes with three substitutes. 

McGinn, Bailey, and the goalscorer depart the pitch and are replaced by Watkins, Ramsey, and Philogene. 

Duran kicks out at the bench in frustration as he takes his seat.

Villa 2 Bologna 0 (Duran)

Villa have played some excellent football tonight. 

Diego Carlos makes a great diagonal pass from the halfway line, into the path of Rogers who runs down the left towards the goal. 

Duran is waiting in the box and Rogers crosses the ball in. Duran is tightly marked but manages to flick it across the goal and into the far corner. 

Tempers are flaring on the Bologna bench. The visitors think they should have received a free kick for a foul on Fabbian before the goal.

Villa 1 Bologna 0 (McGinn)

The breakthrough moment!

Villa have a free kick which McGinn manages to curl all the way in, past all the defenders and awaiting Villa heads. It skips off the surface, into the far corner and the Villa Park crowd erupts.

What a moment for the home fans!

However, tensions suddenly grow around the stadium as a VAR goal check gets underway... 

After a potential hand ball check, the goal is quickly given!

Another player goes into the book as Freuler brings down Konsa.

Italiano, Bologna’s manager, makes his frustrations very clear on the sidelines and has a disagreement with Emery which is quickly settled with a handshake. 

Bologna are currently on the front foot, with Villa looking a bit disjointed and ragged in the opening stages of the second half. 

The visitors are happy to pass the ball around at the back as Villa struggle to regain possession.

Down the other end, Bologna have a big chance as Posch drives his effort just wide of the post. 

He had plenty of time to set himself up for that and will be kicking himself for missing the target. A real missed opportunity for the visitors. 

Barkley is booked for a foul in the aftermath.

Another Bologna player goes into the books as Lykogiannis brings his arm up and catches Bailey’s face.

Villa quickly take the free kick from about 30 yards out. It falls to Bailey who shoots and his effort curls inches wide. 

A big missed opportunity for the home side.

The teams are back out on the Villa Park pitch and the referee blows the whistle to get the second half underway.

Both managers have made changes at half-time, with Villa’s Onana being replaced by Barkley and Odgaard coming on for Bologna.

No goals yet, but it has been an intense watch with both teams creating plenty of chances in the first 45 minutes. 

Another chance for Rogers!

It’s a frenetic end to the first half as Villa immediately attack again. 

Rogers is in behind and Skorupski comes to meet him, about 10 yards off his line. 

The Villa player attempts a low finish but it is blocked. He’s been one of the home team’s brightest players in the first half.

So close!

Duran releases the ball to Rogers, who has a pocket of space and attempts a shot from 20 yards out. It whistles just past the post.

The visitors are dangerous down the left, with Ndoye still searching for a breakthrough. 

His attempt is blocked but Bologna regain possession and continue to look for a pocket of space.

They win a free kick just outside the Villa box. It is volleyed in and scooped up by Ndoye who does well to work around Tielesman and attempt a shot. 

He is blocked and Villa regain possession and attempt a quick counter.

Despite a few last-ditch attempts, Bologna have done very well so far to keep the ball out of their goal.

Villa have posed more threat but are still struggling to make that final pass.

A Bologna attempt is fed directly into the hands of Martinez, who quickly throws it out into the path of Rogers. He breaks down the middle and manages to weave through the Bologna backline towards the goal. 

Bologna regain possession through Orsolini who spins Maatsen and attempts to attack on the counter. However he struggles to break through and Villa quickly regain possession. 

Cheers erupt around the stadium as Tyrone Mings is spotted warming up on the sidelines. He has been out of action for 14 months with a serious knee injury.

Konsa runs down the right, making full use of the space in front of him as he travels almost the full length of the pitch.

He passes across to Onana who loses possession after a scuffle just outside the box.

Villa aren’t done though, as Maatsen regains possession and drives towards the box. He tests the defenders with a fine ball which is cleared out to Tielemans. His volley is blocked away.

Technical football from Villa as they continue to search for the breakthrough.

It is becoming an increasingly feisty affair at Villa Park, with both teams making some sloppy fouls on their counterparts. 

There has only been one booking so far, but it feels as if there will be more to follow if tempers continue to flare.

The visitors are still posing a threat and it’s a big let-off for Bailey after he plays a sloppy pass across the face of his box.

Dallinga gains possession and has a free hit from the edge of the box. He shoots straight at Martinez who easily collects.

The home side are really ramping up the pressure, much to the frustration of an increasingly panicked Bologna defence. 

They have a few chances in quick succession, with Duran flicking a header for Bailey who awaits in the box. He stretches all he can to try to flick it over the goalkeeper but can’t quite reach it. He falls to the ground under pressure from the defender and a penalty shout is quickly dismissed by the referee

The ball is cleared from danger before McGinn drives forward again. His powerful shot is denied by the Bologna goalkeeper.

Another chance for Duran!

Villa’s corner is powered into the box and onto the head of Duran.

His effort is on target as Skorupski manages to get a hand to the ball and flicks it away from danger.

Orsolini is booked for a challenge just outside the Villa box.

After a few moments spent deliberating about who will take the free kick, Tielemans is the one to feed the ball short, into the path of Bailey. 

He drives forward and attempts a shot which is blocked and the ball goes out for a corner.

A big let-off for Villa as Bologna create a chance down the left. The ball is passed into the path of Fabbian who attempts a shot from the near post. It bounces across the goal line and is very nearly hit into the net by a Bologna player who waits at the back. 

The effort goes out wide and the offside flag goes up.

That was a close call for the hosts, with the visitors posing a real threat on the counter.

Tielemans has a free-kick from 30 yards out. He plays it very short to Rogers, who drives neatly down the right and powers the ball into the box.

It’s a great cross and there’s a scramble in the box as the Villa players attempt to get a foot to the ball, with McGinn getting closest. However, a strong block clears the danger for Bologna.

The hosts are playing some lovely football.

Maatsen drives down towards the goal and passes across to Bailey. He has a chance to shoot but opts to feed the ball back to Onana, who hits a clean strike which is blocked by Posch.

Villa starting to put more pressure on now. 

Duran receives the ball from 30 yards out and attempts a shot on goal. His effort is blocked and the ball goes out for a corner. 

A big chance for Bologna. Ndoye - who has started very brightly - times his run perfectly and feeds the ball into the path of Dallinga. He is in behind on Martinez but the Villa goalkeeper manages to get a hand to it and makes an important save. 

A good break down the right hand-side by Villa as the ball is fed into the path of Rogers, who waits in the box. His attempt is blocked but Duran is quick to get to the loose ball and forces an effort from close range.

His attempt is blocked by the many defenders surrounding him and goes out for a corner.

It is dealt with quickly by the Bologna backline.

The visitors putting some early pressure on their hosts.

A perfectly-timed pass is fed through to Ndoye, who drives forward and attempts a shot on goal from just outside the box. It flies wide and Martinez makes his first goal kick.

The hosts get the match underway as they aim to continue their fine form and make it three wins in three in the European competition. 

Fireworks are set off and pyrotechnics are on full display. As the teams emerge from the tunnel, a huge display of three lions is draped over the Holte End. 

The stadium is absolutely rocking ahead of kick-off.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game, the Villa boss said tonight is a “good opportunity” for Jhon Duran, who makes just his second start of the season. 

He added: “It is an important moment for him but he must keep his level as high as in previous performances when he was a substitute. 

“I am looking forward to seeing him play in the starting XI, he has done it before many times but today is another step up. We need to be able to keep the structure tactically, and try to add minutes to other players.”

Villa captain McGinn is back in the starting line-up for the first time since his team’s 3-1 win against Wolves on September 21.

He picked up a hamstring injury during that game which saw him sidelined for a few weeks, and made his return to action in a substitute appearance against Fulham at the weekend.

These are the scores so far in today’s matchday three early kick-offs:

And these are the other games also kicking off at 8pm BST this evening:

It will be a night of mixed emotions for Samuel Iling-Junior, an Aston Villa player currently on loan at Bologna.

The 21-year-old winger joined Villa this summer on a five-year contract, but left again almost immediately on a season-long loan deal at the Italian club. 

As the Champions League isn’t a domestic competition, there are no rules prohibiting him from being in the matchday squad meaning he is on the bench tonight and may even get some minutes against his parent club.

Speaking ahead of the game to TNT Sport, he said: “It was a fixture that I looked at and I just feel like it’s an occasion - every game is an occasion, so I saw it as that and I’m excited to play.”

Drew Genoa 2 Bologna 2

Drew Bologna 0 Parma 0

Lost Liverpool 2 Bologna 0

Drew Bologna 1 Atalanta 1

Won Monza 1 Bologna 2

A more varied picture for the Italian side, who currently sit 12th in Serie A after eight matches, with nine points.

Won Fulham 1 Aston Villa 3

Drew Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 0

Won Aston Villa 1 Bayern Munich 0

Drew Ipswich Town 2 Aston Villa 2

Won Wycombe 1 Aston Villa 2

A strong start to domestic and European campaigns for Villa who currently sit fourth in the Premier League with 17 points, just four points off Liverpool at the top.

The host’s line-up has had a shake-up following their 3-1 win against Fulham at the weekend, with the biggest change being that Jhon Duran is “super-sub” no more. 

He leads the line from kick-off for just the second time this season, replacing Ollie Watkins who is on the Villa bench.

Ezri Konsa and Ian Maatsen lead the defence, while Leon Bailey starts in midfield alongside John McGinn who returned at the weekend from a hamstring issue.

Aston Villa starting XI: E.Martinez (GK), Diego Carlos, Konsa, McGinn (C), Tielemans, Duran, Pau Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Rogers, Bailey.

Bologna starting XI: Skorupski (GK), Posch, Orsolini, Freuler, Ndoye, Lykogiannis, Dallinga, Lucumi, Beukema (C), Fabbian, Urbanski.

Welcome to our coverage of the Champions League as Aston Villa host Bologna at Villa Park. 

The hosts will look to continue their strong form after registering two wins in two games in their return to the top European competition.

Last time out, Unai Emery delivered a Champions League masterclass as his side beat Bayern Munich 1-0 and, in the game before that, they thrashed Young Boys 3-0 in Switzerland. 

Emery’s team have started positively both continentally and domestically. They have a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions and currently sit fourth in the Premier League with 17 points from eight games, having most recently beaten Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage.

Victory for Villa would see Emery pick up his 25th win in the Champions League – becoming the fifth Spanish manager to achieve the feat after Pep Guardiola, Rafael Benítez, Vicente del Bosque and Luis Enrique.

Tonight will see the two sides meet for the first time, with Bologna travelling to Birmingham with a slightly shakier record than their hosts.

In their previous two Champions League fixtures, they were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield and held to a 0-0 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk. 

Domestically, they have racked up the draws under new manager Vincenzo Italiano. The team have lost only once in eight league games but have drawn six of them, including a 2-2 result against Genoa at the weekend where they surrendered a two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes.

Villa have an almost fully fit squad, with Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings returning from injury after several months on the sidelines. Meanwhile, captain John McGinn returned from a hamstring problem to make a brief appearance at the weekend and will be available for tonight’s match. 

Speaking ahead of the game about his team’s opponents, Emery said: “They have started with a new coach who is really playing very well in combination and defensively, being aggressive. 

“They played a fantastic match against Liverpool and they deserved more against Liverpool.”

The game kicks off at 8pm BST and we will have team news for you shortly.