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BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Lewis Ferguson of Bologna looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Bologna FC 1909 and SK Brann at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 26, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Bologna were left to rue a series of costly defensive errors after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, with both Lewis Ferguson and Federico Bernardeschi delivering frank and self-critical assessments of a result that leaves the Italians facing a mountain to climb at Villa Park next week.
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The manner of the defeat was particularly frustrating given how well Bologna performed in the opening 45 minutes.
Ferguson, who had a chance himself to open the scoring, felt the scoreline was a harsh reflection of a first half his side largely controlled, only to be undone by the kind of individual errors that Aston Villa, at this level, are ruthless enough to punish.
“We knew this would be a real challenge, Villa are a very strong side, but I thought we dominated the first half,” Ferguson told Sky Sport Italia.
“We conceded on a corner, we knew they were good in these situations, and I’m sad that we conceded a goal like that when we were doing so well. In the second half we paid for another avoidable error that made life difficult for ourselves.”
He remained defiant about the second leg, however. “We’ve got nothing left to lose at Villa Park.”
Ferguson also acknowledged the fine margins that separate the two sides at this level.
“There are details that decide games at this level, we saw the difference today in the details, and perhaps that is the big difference between us and Aston Villa.”
Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa – Bernardeschi: ‘You cannot afford to make these mistakes in Europe’
Bernardeschi was equally candid, and his words carried the weight of a senior player demanding higher standards from himself and his teammates.
“The truth is you cannot afford to make these mistakes in Europe,” he said.
“I believe Bologna are not in any way inferior to Aston Villa, but the details make the difference, you cannot make any mistakes, and we were punished by three errors.”
He was particularly pointed about the third goal, which he felt was entirely avoidable.
“This game has to be a teachable moment. We need to mature, grow, and believe that if we want to take the step up in quality, we cannot do things like this.”
A first-half performance full of promise, three defensive lapses, and a 3-1 deficit — Bologna’s European education continues, and the lessons have never been more costly.
