Vincenzo Italiano asserts that Roma are “superior in every aspect,” yet Bologna has “climbed a mountain” to prepare for their upcoming Europa League quarter-final against Aston Villa. “We’ll be the underdogs again,” he stated.
The Rossoblu are gearing up to meet Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final while entering as underdogs, a similar situation they faced during their Italian derby against Roma.
“Having previously played Aston Villa twice at their stadium, we go in aware of our underdog status. However, we intend to devise a strategy to achieve something remarkable,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.
The first match is set for April 9 at Stadio Dall’Ara, with the second leg taking place at Villa Park the following week.
Italiano Praises Bologna’s Triumph in the Eternal City
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, and Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, pose for a photo prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“You could feel the atmosphere in the stadium from the start. We were up against a strong team, and I thought our chances of advancing were 49-51, but we managed to turn things in our favor and continue in this vital European competition,” Italiano expressed.
“The match was fantastic; we’re genuinely thrilled to have done what we accomplished; it felt like climbing a mountain. I can only commend the players for their exceptional performance, as winning in this environment against this Roma team was a notable achievement.”
Bologna led at no point during this tie, conceding an equalizer for a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Stadio Dall’Ara. They took the lead in Rome as well with a stunning strike from Jonathan Rowe.
In fact, Bologna was ahead 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to Federico Bernardeschi’s penalty and a goal from Santiago Castro, but saw their lead slip to 3-3, forcing extra time.
Fresh legs proved crucial here, with Nicolò Cambiaghi coming off the bench to score from a tight angle.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“We struggled in the initial 20 minutes to maintain pressure on Roma, but then we began to dominate in their half and executed our game plan,” Italiano continued.
“Once in extra time, it’s about scoring the first goal, and we succeeded.”
The Stadio Olimpico has proven a fortunate venue for Bologna, who previously celebrated a historic victory there against Milan in the Coppa Italia Final last year, marking their first major trophy in 51 years.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Nikola Moro of Bologna celebrates following the team’s victory in the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Italiano clearly has a knack for Cup competitions; he previously led Fiorentina to two Conference League Finals and a Coppa Italia Final before joining Bologna.
“I strive to honor each competition in the best manner possible, ensuring the right spirit, preparation, and maximum effort. These tournaments are not lengthy, so we need to devise strategies to challenge opponents even when they are stronger on paper,” he noted.
“We navigated a tough league phase, won a challenging play-off, and today overcame a team that is superior to us in every respect. However, employing our tactics effectively leads to these successes.”
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Bologna players celebrate their victory during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match against AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on March 19, 2026, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Elated Bologna players continue their celebrations in front of their away supporters as Italiano conducts interviews nearby.
“I had to hurry back to join the celebration because the doctor advised me to keep warm since I recently had pneumonia,” Italiano said with a smile.
The coach spent part of the season directing training remotely due to hospitalization for a week with pneumonia.