The Italian club host Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano reckons his team need to play the “perfect game” to beat Villa in the Europa League.
The sides meet in Italy on Thursday night for a quarter-final first leg, with Italiano “not ashamed” to say Villa are the better team on paper.
Unai Emery’s men have beaten Bologna in each of the last two seasons, including a 1-0 group stage win on the opening night of this term’s competition.
Italiano said: “They are strong and they have amazing individual players. It’s a team with great value, and we will have to play a perfect game to win.
“Everyone knows how difficult it will be, but we have to prove to everyone our values and strengths. We will try to put lots of quality on the pitch, and we know the opponent.”
Italiano called on home supporters to get behind his side and make life difficult as possible for Villa at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium.
The Serie A club have struggled on home turf this season, losing seven of their last 14 games in front of their own fans.
But they have picked up some impressive results, knocking out Roma over two legs in the previous round.
Italiano said: “This season, unfortunately, is going this way: the trend of failing to win at home and struggling at home.
“It has been consistent. At times, we have also shown that we have done well, like the game against Udinese or the first leg against Roma.”
He continued: “Our people are always close to us. I said that during the league. I hope the fans always come with us, and they did.
“We have a great desire and hunger to make life difficult for a team. At least on paper, they are obviously superior to us. We don’t have to be ashamed to say that.”
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