Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna: McGinn and Duran targets keep good begin

Unai Emery has performed near miracles since taking over at Aston Villa but if he can find a way to keep both Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran happy, it might be his greatest trick yet.

Duran had just hit the decisive second goal to make it three wins from three in the Champions League for Villa when he was replaced by Watkins before the game had restarted.Watkins did not exactly look thrilled when his team-mate beat Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski but that reaction was nothing compared to Duran’s. The Colombian took out his frustration on the seats in front of him, kicking and punching the upholstery before he was placated by a member of Emery’s staff. 

With 20 minutes left, Duran headed down the tunnel, though he returned, smiling, to collect the man-of-the-match award and pose for selfies with fans. Emery insisted he was unconcerned by Duran’s behaviour but reminded his players to respect the team’s ‘values’.

Whatever he does, Duran attracts the spotlight. He signed a new deal with a huge pay rise recently but even that is unlikely to soothe him if he returns to the bench for Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth.

This was Duran’s seventh goal in all competitions, despite starting only two games. Watkins, meanwhile, has five.

Unai Emery masterminded yet another win in the Champions League as Aston Villa maintained their perfect start to the campaign

John McGinn scored on his first start since returning from injury to put Aston Villa ahead against Bologna 

The Colombian netted his seventh goal of the campaign after being handed the start by Unai Emery

Emery can play them together but that means shifting Morgan Rogers. Rogers has been outstanding alongside both Watkins and Duran and though he can also operate wide, Emery will be reluctant to move him from the middle.

Emery is one of the best-paid managers in the world precisely because Villa believe he can solve these posers. And with good reason: Villa are fourth in the Premier League and two more wins from their remaining group games may be enough to see them into the Champions League last 16 without the need for a play-off.

‘We can change the objective and try to be in the top eight,’ said Emery. ‘I want us to feel that this is natural for us, and not a surprise. But there are other teams who are contenders and favourites to get top eight.’

Villa were nearly off to a flier when Leon Bailey reached the touchline but his cut-back was miskicked by Rogers and Duran thrashed the loose ball goalwards only for his effort to be blocked.

At the other end, Swiss attacker Dan Ndoye drifted inside Ezri Konsa and found Thijs Dallinga, who forced Emi Martinez to make an important save.

After that Villa had the majority of the play but before the break, they could not make their fine approach work count, as Amadou Onana, John McGinn, Duran and Youri Tielemans went close.

Rogers had two chances to put Villa in front in first-half stoppage time. First he took a pass from Duran and was just off target from 25 yards, and then he was denied by Skorupski after nutmegging Jhon Lucumi.

Although the home fans were engrossed in the action, they gave one of the loudest cheers of the first half when Tyrone Mings left the bench to warm up. This was the England defender’s first appearance in a matchday squad since the opening day of last season, his 14-month absence due to a serious knee injury finally at an end.

The home side doubled their lead shortly after the hour with a well-taken goal from John Duran

Villa boss Unai Emery made a change at the start of the second half, sending on Ross Barkley for Amadou Onana, who had seemed to be feeling discomfort in a hamstring during the opening period. Bologna made a change of their own as Jens Odgaard replaced Riccardo Orsolini, who had struggled with the McGinn/Ian Maatsen combination before the break.

Now attacking the Holte End, Villa kept the tempo high. Maatsen’s clipped ball into the box was headed down by Ezri Konsa and Bailey really should have hit the dropping ball on target.

Ndoye had been Bologna’s brightest attacker and early on he made another chance for Posch. The full-back wasted an excellent position by drilling wide from 20 yards.

Villa were hoping their greater physical power would eventually bring its rewards. Konsa was hacked down by former Nottingham Forest midfielder Remo Freuler, sparking a brief tiff between Emery and opposite number Vincenzo Italiano. The dispute was resolved with a handshake but perhaps Italiano would have wished he had not been so friendly when he watched what happened next.

McGinn’s free-kick from the left was flighted perfectly and caused Skorupski to hesitate. With the Pole in no man’s land, the delivery missed everyone in the middle but crept into the far corner.

Ollie Watkins was given a rest for the visit of Bologna on Tuesday night, though the England striker faces a stern test to maintain his spot as the starting striker

Emiliano Martinez kept another clean sheet to ensure that Villa remain one of only six teams yet to concede in this year’s competition

Even the person controlling the scoreboard was caught up in the excitement. The display on the big screen briefly signalled 2-0 to Villa, with both awarded to McGinn. A VAR check threatened to confuse the issue once again though to Villa’s relief, the ball was deemed not to have made contact with Barkley’s hand on the way through.

Moments later Emery prepared a triple change, with Watkins, Jacob Ramsey and Jaden Philogene for emerging from the bench. Yet as they waited in the technical area, Duran made his mark. He drifted in front of Lucumi and hooked Rogers’ cross into the far corner from close range. It was to be his final contribution as Emery made the triple change before the restart, with McGinn and Bailey also coming off.

Villa suffered a late scare when Sam Beukema headed against a post – one of the rare occasions Emery’s men were troubled on a straightforward evening. On the pitch, at least.