Football Italia Live Blog
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Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from the quarter-finals, as Bologna visit Aston Villa for the Europa League, while Fiorentina host Crystal Palace in the Conference League.
Both games kick off at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
There are mountains to climb for both Italian teams if they want to remain the only representatives in Europe.
Bologna lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa, and suffered defeats twice in recent years at Villa Park.
Fiorentina have a 3-0 deficit to overturn as they welcome Crystal Palace to the Stadio Franchi.
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Paolo Vanoli was ‘proud’ of Fiorentina after they beat Crystal Palace, but went out of the Conference League. ‘If we had a full squad, we proved we can play at this level.’
Vincenzo Italiano explains his surprising tactical adjustments against Aston Villa, but insists Bologna ‘went beyond expectations’ reaching the Europa League quarter-finals.
Four stellar match ups in Europe 💫 pic.twitter.com/h7EGPWsyu2
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026
Despite the heaviness of the defeats, it must be noted that the only Europa League games Bologna lost this season were all against Aston Villa.
So, that’s it for Italian clubs in Europe. And Italy are not in the World Cup.
Not ideal.
Fiorentina at least managed to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on the night with Albert Gudmundsson and Cher Ndour, but their Conference League campaign ended in the quarter-finals.
Piccoli into the book too.
Into 4 minutes of added time.
Ndour is booked for a very high tackle, that could’ve been worse…
Bologna continued their disastrous record against Aston Villa, crashing out of the Europa League quarter-final with a 4-0 defeat, 7-1 on aggregate.
On the corner, it is knocked up into the air off a Bologna player, but the finish is extraordinarily tricky from Konsa, turning on the volley to fire in from six yards.
Aston Villa threaten this time, Leon Bailey’s shot is deflected over by Miranda!
That was going in!
Sohm gets down the left, dinks it up for Orsolini with Martinez beaten, but his attempt to bundle over the line is blocked by a desperate Digne leg!
Riad goes to ground screaming and flailing and clutching his neck because he brushed against Fiorentina’s Ndour. He just got booked, really should’ve had another just for being so ridiculous.
And they accuse Italian teams of play-acting…
Riad eventually gets booked for Palace. Better late than never.
Casale off injured for Bologna, Heggem on.
Another Aston Villa chance to make it 4-0 on the night, Ravaglia parries from Lucas Digne at the near post.
Solomon and Gudmundsson off, Fazzini and Fabbian on for Fiorentina.
Yeremy Pino off, Hughes on for Palace.
Onana off, Bogarde on for Villa.
Mandragora cross-shot deflected into the path of Gudmundsson, but Henderson gets there first and draws the foul.
Balbo and Kouadio on for Fiorentina, both from the youth team, as Comuzzo and Gosens come off.
Castro off for Bologna, Odgaard on
A well-worked Fiorentina move sends Harrison sprinting down the right, but then he runs out of steam and the weak finish is easy for Henderson.
Rogers and Tielemans off for Aston Villa, Douglas Luiz and Sancho on.
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