Aston Villa’s impressive Champions League campaign continued as they marked Unai Emery’s second anniversary in charge with a 2-0 victory over Bologna, moving to the top of the group stage.
Captain John McGinn, Villa’s longest-serving player, broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a free-kick that sailed past both the defenders and goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.
Bologna felt aggrieved, believing they deserved a free-kick earlier in the play.
Villa doubled their lead nine minutes later when Jhon Duran scored from close range in his first start at Villa Park in 11 months.
Despite netting his seventh goal of the season, Duran showed frustration at being substituted right after, kicking a seat as Ollie Watkins came on.
Following wins over Young Boys and Bayern Munich, Villa now have nine points from three games, reigniting the European atmosphere at Villa Park.
