Bologna Captain Vows to Fight in Europa League Comeback Attempt Against Villa
Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson has issued a defiant warning to Aston Villa, declaring his team has 'nothing to lose' as they prepare for a rare Europa League comeback in Birmingham on Thursday night.
The Italian club heads to Villa Park with the odds heavily stacked against them, trailing 3-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final tie in Italy last week. Bologna are aiming to become only the second team since the competition was rebranded from the Uefa Cup in 2009 to overturn a two-goal deficit away from home.
Historical Precedent and Villa's Formidable Home Record
The sole previous occurrence of such a comeback was in 2014, when Sevilla, then managed by Unai Emery, secured a 3-0 second-leg victory to eliminate city rivals Real Betis 3-2 on aggregate. Adding to Bologna's challenge, Villa boast an impressive home record since returning to European competition two seasons ago, having won 16 out of 18 ties at Villa Park since the start of the 2023-24 season.
Their only defeat in that period was a 4-2 loss to Olympiacos in a Conference League semi-final first leg. A repeat of that scoreline on Thursday would at least force extra time for Bologna.
Ferguson's Defiant Stance and Team Belief
Despite the daunting task, Ferguson remains optimistic. 'Anything can happen, and we still believe,' the Scotland international told Sky Sports. 'A lot of people on the outside might think at 3-1 it has finished the tie, but there are still 90 minutes to play and we've not given up. We've got nothing to lose now. We will give it absolutely everything.'
This match marks Bologna's second visit to Villa Park this season and their third in the last two campaigns. In both previous trips, they have suffered defeats, including a 1-0 loss on the opening night of this season's Europa League.
Bologna's Recent Away Form and Challenges Ahead
However, Bologna have shown resilience in away matches recently, winning their last five Europa League games on the road since losing to Villa in September. This includes a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory at Serie A rivals Roma, which secured a 5-4 aggregate win. As they gear up for this crucial encounter, Ferguson's words underscore a team ready to defy expectations and fight for a historic result in Birmingham.
