Get ready for a thrilling ride. Aston Villa’s recent victory has set the stage for a crucial six-match stretch that could shape their entire season, and Unai Emery is clearly intent on pushing the team to its limits in each encounter.

Goals from Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, scored on either side of halftime, have positioned Villa on the doorstep of the Europa League semi-finals. Despite a spirited response from Bologna’s Jonathan Rowe, Watkins sealed Villa’s two-goal advantage with a last-minute strike. The return leg is scheduled for Thursday at Villa Park.

Watkins, who has scored three times in his last two outings, appears to be hitting his stride following a challenging season. At 30, he remains hopeful of rejoining the England squad, and a strong finish could persuade England manager Thomas Tuchel to include him in the World Cup squad.

Villa’s upcoming schedule is demanding, with a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday preceding the second leg against Bologna. Following these, matches against Sunderland and Fulham await, potentially leading into a semi-final clash against either Porto or Forest.

While Forest can rotate their lineup in European fixtures, Villa’s starting players, including Emi Martinez, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Konsa, and Watkins, are likely to feature in all six matches due to Emery’s limited bench options. Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey are yet to regain their peak form in their second stints at the club, and Emery seems hesitant to fully utilize Tammy Abraham or Ian Maatsen. Jadon Sancho is expected back from injury soon, while Tyrone Mings offers reliable backup in defense, although Konsa and Torres currently hold the starting spots.

Ollie Watkins helped spearhead an important first-leg victory for Aston Villa versus Bologna

Unai Emery will have been delighted with his players but there is much more to do before the end of the season

Emery will be pleased with the outcome, if not entirely satisfied with the performance. He will be hoping for more fortune in upcoming matches, as Villa were fortunate in the first half where Bologna was dominant. Before Konsa’s goal, Bologna had a marginal offside call against them and struck the crossbar through Federico Bernardeschi.

‘In the first half we didn’t control the game as we planned but in the second half we were better.’ admitted Emery. ‘Watkins is a fighter, sometimes he plays brilliantly like today and other times not. When he is not scoring we lack something but he always does his task for the team. He is always consistent in his work and that is a message for the players.’

In the 21st minute, Juan Miranda drifted inside Matty Cash and found Santiago Castro, whose miskick allowed Pau Torres to block. Seconds later, Miranda met Federico Bernardeschi’s cross on the volley and Martinez tipped over.

By now Martinez was taking an age over restarts and twice in the first half Amadou Onana stayed down after a challenge, with Villa trying desperately to regroup. But Unai Emery’s men were labouring and they thought they had gone behind midway through the half.

Cash was outjumped on halfway by Rowe and the former Norwich winger raced into Villa territory before feeding Castro. The Argentine’s effort clipped Konsa and though Cash hoofed it clear, the ball had already crossed the line – but Villa’s luck was in. VAR replays indicated Castro had been a fraction offside and the goal did not stand.

Goalscorer Ezri Konsa is one of a number of players that Emery will continue to expect a lot from for the remainder of the season

Bologna’s Jonathan Rowe thought he had brought his side within one goal of the visitors before Watkins’ final kick 

Moments later, Castro barged Konsa off the ball, the outstanding Rowe picked up the pieces and Bernardeschi met his cross with a first-time volley that struck the underside of the bar. No wonder Martinez clenched his fist in celebration and exchanged relieved glances with Torres.

The Bologna attacking trio of Rowe, Castro and Bernardeschi were causing Villa huge problems and full-backs Cash and Lucas Digne were struggling. Yet Villa have become a savvy European outfit under Emery and despite playing poorly, they stayed in the game.

McGinn’s 25-yard effort had Federico Ravaglia scrambling across his goal and a corner found Amadou Onana unmarked. Bologna were clearly unsettled by Villa’s blocking tactics to release Onana and seemed to lose focus when the next corner came.

Tielemans sent the ball towards the far post, Ravaglia grasped at thin air and Konsa escaped Lucumi’s clutches to head Villa in front. The England defender celebrated in front of the Bologna fans and a few bottles were promptly aimed in his direction.

Rowe continue to trouble Villa at the start of the second half, making another dash down the left before teeing up Tommaso Pobega, though the midfielder’s effort from 20 yards was high and wide.

Villa had survived again and they quickly doubled their lead when Miranda played Torbjorn Heggem into danger with a risky pass across the box. Heggem’s attempted clearance then rebounded off Buendia and ran perfectly for Watkins to slide the second past Ravaglia. The circumstances were ideal for Villa to kill off the tie and Rogers put a dipping effort just over before Watkins overran a pass from Buendia and allowed Ravaglia to gather while at the other end Bernardeschi struck the outside of the post from eight yards and Martinez saved brilliantly from Rowe. The winger scored the goal his display deserved when he cut inside and beat Martinez on the angle but his good work was undone when Bologna defended another corner poorly and Watkins prodded in his second.