The UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final First Leg brings together Bologna and Aston Villa at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Thursday, 9 April 2026. Villa chase a third consecutive European quarter-final appearance while Bologna aim to reach their first semi-final since 1998-99. The Premier League’s sixth-placed side (54 points) face Serie A’s eighth-placed Bologna (45 points) in a rematch that sees Villa defending a 32-year unbeaten record against Italian opponents. The stakes couldn’t be higher as both clubs battle for a place in the final four of Europe’s second-tier competition.
Match Preview
Aston Villa enter this tie with psychological dominance after beating Bologna twice already last years: 2-0 in the Champions League 2024-2025, and 1-0 in the Europa League group phase last September. That September defeat remains Bologna’s only loss in their last 12 Europa League matches, demonstrating the Italian side’s resilience. Villa’s current form shows two consecutive wins, including a 3-0 aggregate victory over Lille in the Round of 16 and a 2-0 Premier League triumph against West Ham with goals from John McGinn and Ollie Watkins. Bologna advanced through a dramatic 5-4 aggregate win over Roma after a 4-3 extra-time thriller, though their domestic form has been inconsistent with a 0-2 home loss to Lazio followed by a 2-1 away win at Cremonese. The Rossoblu sit 10th in the Europa League standings (4W-3D-1L) while Villa claimed second place (7W-0D-1L), highlighting the English side’s superior group-stage performance. Villa’s four successive clean sheets against Italian teams dating back to 1994 adds historical weight to their confidence. Bologna’s home advantage at the 36,462-capacity Dall’Ara and their 11-match European unbeaten run since facing Villa create an intriguing tactical battle. With Villa boasting a 14:6 goal difference compared to Bologna’s 14:7 in the competition, both attacks have proven lethal. The second leg at Villa Park will determine the tie, but this opening encounter in Bologna’s historic stadium sets the tone for what promises to be a captivating quarter-final showdown.
Kickoff Time
The match kicks off at 19:00 UTC / 20:00 local time (CEST) at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna, Italy on Thursday, 9 April 2026. For fans watching globally, the start times in major regions are:
- United Kingdom & Ireland: 19:00 BST
- United States (East Coast): 15:00 EDT
- United States (West Coast): 12:00 PDT
- Brazil: 16:00 BRT
- Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia): 22:00 GST
- South Africa: 21:00 SAST
- Australia (East Coast): 05:00 AEST (10 April)
How to watch online & on TV
The Bologna vs Aston Villa quarter-final will be broadcast across multiple platforms worldwide. In the UK, discovery+ and TNT Sports 2 (Ireland) hold streaming rights, while Italian fans can watch on Sky Uno and NOW. US viewers have access through Prime Video and UniMás, with Brazilian coverage on CazéTV and Prime Video. Most streaming services require paid subscriptions, though some free-to-air options exist in select markets. Subscription costs vary by region, typically ranging from €5-15 monthly for European services and $10-20 for North American platforms. Check the table below for your country’s official broadcaster.
| 🇬🇧 England | discovery+ |
| 🇬🇧 Scotland | discovery+ |
| 🇬🇧 Wales | discovery+ |
| 🇬🇧 Northern Ireland | discovery+ |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | discovery+, TNT 2 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Sky Uno, NOW |
| 🇸🇲 San Marino | Sky Uno, NOW |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Prime Video |
| 🇫🇷 France | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Prime Video |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Prime Video, Sky Aus 4 |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | V Sport 2 Suomi |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Viaplay |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Polsat Pre 2 |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | Prima 1, Digi 1 |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Arena 1 HR |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Cytavision 3, Cytavision 4K |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Megogo |
| 🇺🇸 United States | Prime Video, UniMás |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | CazéTV, Prime Video |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | Disney+ P Chi |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | Disney+ P Chi |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | Disney+ P Chi |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | beIN 1 |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | beIN 1 |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | beIN 1 |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | beIN 1 |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | beIN 1 |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | beIN 1 |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | beIN 1 |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | beIN 1 |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | beIN 1 |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | beIN 1 |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | beIN 1 |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | beIN 1 |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | beIN 1 |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | beIN 1 |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | beIN 1 |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | beIN 1 |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | beIN 1 |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | beIN 1 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | beIN Mal |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | beIN Malaysia, sooka, beIN Mal |
| 🇧🇳 Brunei | beIN Malaysia |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now, beIN 1 |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon | GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, DStv Now |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, beIN 1 |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇬🇲 Gambia | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇬🇳 Guinea | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇨🇬 Republic of Congo | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, DStv Now |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, DStv Now |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | GOtv Football, DStv Now, Sport 24 Extra, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇱🇷 Liberia | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, DStv Now, beIN 1 |
| 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, beIN 1 |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, beIN 1 |
How to watch anywhere with VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to bypass geographical restrictions and access streaming platforms from anywhere in the world. If you’re traveling or living in a region without broadcast rights, a VPN masks your actual location by routing your connection through a server in another country. This enables you to watch the match as if you were physically present in that nation. Here’s how to set it up:
- Step 1: Subscribe to a reputable VPN service (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark are popular options)
- Step 2: Download and install the VPN app on your device (available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Smart TVs)
- Step 3: Connect to a server in the country where the broadcaster operates (e.g., UK server for discovery+, US server for Prime Video)
- Step 4: Log in to your streaming platform and access the live match
Most premium VPNs support simultaneous connections on multiple devices, letting you watch on your phone, tablet, laptop, or Smart TV. Ensure your VPN subscription is active before kick-off, as connection speeds may vary during peak hours. Note that some streaming services actively block VPN traffic, so choose a provider with proven bypass capabilities.
How to watch at Sportsbooks
Many online sportsbooks offer live streaming of major football matches as a perk for registered users with funded accounts. This service typically requires no additional subscription beyond maintaining an active betting account with available funds. The streaming quality is usually reliable, though availability varies by region and betting platform. To access the match through a sportsbook:
- Step 1: Register an account with a licensed sportsbook that offers live streaming (check your jurisdiction’s legal betting operators)
- Step 2: Complete identity verification and deposit funds into your account (minimum deposit requirements vary, typically €10-20)
- Step 3: Navigate to the live betting section or fixture calendar on match day
- Step 4: Look for the ‘Watch Live’ or ‘Play’ icon next to the Bologna vs Aston Villa fixture
Popular platforms offering this feature include bet365, Unibet, and Betfair in Europe, though specific availability depends on broadcasting agreements in your country. Some operators require you to place a small bet on the match to unlock streaming access. Always verify the platform’s licensing status and ensure responsible gambling practices. The stream typically appears 5-10 minutes before kick-off.
This UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final First Leg promises tactical intrigue as Villa’s attacking prowess meets Bologna’s resilient European form. With a semi-final berth on the line and historical narratives at play, missing this encounter means missing one of the season’s defining moments. Stay tuned to TipsGG for post-match analysis, player ratings, and comprehensive coverage of the second leg at Villa Park.