Tom Ross takes a look at a crucial run of games for Aston Villa
Unai Emery of Aston Villa
Unai Emery of Aston Villa
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The first of, hopefully, Aston Villa’s four vital games kicks off tonight at Villa Park with their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bologna. Villa have a 3-1 lead from their first leg in Italy.It’s a massive mouth-watering night for Villa supporters who have enjoyed some nights they will never forget in European competitions.Considering Villa’s impressive home record, a 3-1 lead should be enough to win and set up a two-legged semi-final against either Porto or Nottingham Forest.I am sure Villa supporters would prefer it to be Forest especially as they have beaten them 3-1 at Villa Park and drawn 1-1 at the City Ground this season.Forest go into their second leg against Portuguese club Porto at home all square at 1-1.You can take nothing for granted in this crazy game but if it were Forest, it would help them in their fight to stay in the top four and ultimately secure a Champions League place by not having to travel abroad in the Europa semi-final. Of course, winning the Europa League would also secure them a place in the Champions League.In the other quarter-finals, German club Freiburg take a 3-0 lead to Spain’s Celta Vigo while fellow Spanish club Real Betis are one-all going into their home second leg against Portuguese club Sporting Braga.
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