Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that winger Jadon Sancho will be sidelined for up to two weeks due to a shoulder injury, ruling him out of the upcoming Europa League clash against Bologna on Thursday night.
Injury Details and Timeline
Sancho sustained the shoulder problem during Aston Villa's friendly match against Elche in Spain over the March international break. The incident occurred when he fell awkwardly, forcing him to leave the pitch with his shoulder in a sling as Villa suffered a 2-1 defeat in that game.
Emery provided a clear update on the player's condition, stating, "Sancho is not going to be out for a long time, but he is still out. In a few days or one or two weeks he is coming back. He is progressing well. He is not available for tomorrow."
Impact on Villa's Squad
The absence of Sancho is a blow for Villa, especially considering his recent contribution. In Villa's last match, played 17 days ago against West Ham, Sancho provided an assist in a crucial 2-0 victory. However, the team has some flexibility to cope with his loss.
Youri Tielemans returned to action in that West Ham game, allowing him to play in a more advanced role, while John McGinn can shuffle to the right side to help fill the gap left by Sancho's injury.
Europa League Context
Aston Villa are set to face Bologna in Italy on Thursday night, aiming to secure a positive result to bring back to Birmingham for the second leg. This match marks the second encounter between the two clubs this season in the competition.
Bologna have struggled historically against English clubs in UEFA competitions, remaining winless in their five meetings. They have lost their last four matches against English sides, with their only previous home draw being a 2-2 result against Fulham in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup final first leg.
Despite this, Bologna are currently on an impressive unbeaten run of 11 games in the Europa League, their longest streak without defeat in UEFA competition. This run began after a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Matchday 1 of the tournament.
Villa's European Record
Aston Villa have a mixed record when playing in Italy, having lost all three of their previous fixtures against Italian teams on Italian soil. In those matches, Villa scored only one goal while conceding seven.
On a more positive note, Villa have been strong in European competitions overall, winning 13 of their last 15 European matches. This includes a current winning streak of seven consecutive victories, which stands as the longest victorious sequence in the club's history.
