Aston Villa climbed to the top of the Champions League standings with a 2-0 victory over Bologna at Villa Park.
John McGinn and Jhon Duran were on target in the second half as the Villans recorded their third Champions League win in as many games in assured fashion.
Unai Emery’s men now sit top of the Champions League standings as the only side to have won all three of their games so far without conceding a goal.
Villa started on the front foot thanks to a roaring Villa Park as Duran forced a good save from goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, before the Colombian’s header just evaded Leon Bailey’s effort to poke home.
Another slick move saw John McGinn, back in the side after injury, sting Skorupski’s palms with a fierce shot as the hosts upped the ante.
Morgan Rogers was the heart of Villa’s free-flowing attack and the English midfielder went close just before half-time when his delightful one-two with Bailey resulted in his low effort saved by the goalkeeper.
The hosts made a bright start to the second half, with Bailey effort trickling just wide of the far post after another strong move.
And the Villans finally made the breakthrough in simple fashion when McGinn’s free-kick from the right-hand side eluded every player and found it’s way in.
Duran was on hand to double Villa’s lead shortly after when Rogers collected the ball on the left-hand side, with his pinpoint cross calmly met by the Colombian for his sixth goal of the season.
IT JUST HAD TO BE HIM! 💥
Jhon Durán with a strikers finish to double Aston Villa’s lead 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ECuzKIsiwD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2024
Substitute Jacob Ramsey could easily have made it 3-0 at the death after a bursting run forward but he could not lift his finish over Skorupski when he should have done better.
