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By DOMINIC KING Published: 07: 19 AEST, 26 September 2025 | Updated: 08: 56 AEST, 26 September 2025 6 View comments So Aston Villa are up and running for the first time this season, a solitary goal securing victory over Bologna in their Europa League opener.   Unai Emery’s men are favourites to win the competition he has made his own down the years, thanks to four successes spread between Sevilla and Villarreal. But the glory days don’t appear to be beckoning for Villa and the nature of this triumph – their first since May 16 in any competition – did little to quell the unease. This is a story that must be followed closely. Daily Mail Sport's DOMINIC KING was at Villa Park and he has picked out the key talking points from the clash.    Aston Villa got their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Bologna on Thursday night Villa had to battle hard for the victory though, and there is plenty of work for Unai Emery to do It’s easy for trust to erode when form falters. Emery seemed ready to burst with enthusiasm when he settled down on Wednesday to preview this game but his excitement, seemingly, was not shared by the locals.   This stadium is usually so atmospheric but it all felt rather humdrum throughout. You sensed it would be like this outside Villa Park before kick-off, as there was no bounce or sense of occasion, as was the cade 12 months ago when Bayern Munich rolled into town to recreate the 1982 European Cup final.   If the Holte End is Villa’s 12th man, it hasn’t been summoned for action yet. The atmosphere at Villa Park was flat however, and it was a marked difference to a year ago Villa epitomise the team that is unsure about itself. Marco Bizot, deputising for the injured Emi Martinez in goal, fluffed his first two passes and the jitters apparent on Wearside last Sunday were obvious in the early skirmishes. Opponents better than Bologna, with respect, would have profited. In these circumstances, you have to look for you leader and John Mc Ginn will never, ever go missing.   He addressed the shortcomings of the 1-1 draw with Sunderland his team-mates in the dressing room immediately after that game and reminded them of their responsibilities. His words registered – but they needed backing up with actions. Full credit, then, to this Scottish dynamo. His tension-lancing goal was a beauty, a left-foot drive that skidded in after 13 minutes.   Even better, however, was his leadership and energy – he talks so much on the pitch you wonder how he has voice left at the end. ‘Fantastic, ’ said Emery, simply, booming his appreciation. Nobody felt compelled to disagree. John Mc Ginn scored the game's only goal and Villa's captain led from the front throughout But the goal didn’t have restorative effects. Emery acknowledged it with a shake of his fists – much lower key than you would have anticipated – but to study him through the game was to see a man who can feel tension like the way cold creeps through your body on a winter’s day. At one point, fourth official Jose Luis Munera had to ask him to return to his technical area after straying too far down the line.   He paced back and forth, grimaced, growled and looked as distracted as man sprinting to catch the last train home.   Contentment seems some way away. Unai Emery appeared extremely tense and animated on the touchline at Villa Park Perhaps Emery might have found it had substitute Ollie Watkins converted a 66th minute penalty, which he had won – some would say fortuitously given how he ran across Martin Vitik – himself.   But, instead, his kick lacked conviction and was turned away by Lukas Skorupski. Has Watkins been the same since a move to Arsenal failed to materialise in January? Not really. He’s not scored since May 10 and something isn’t right.   His plight is indicative of his team: you know there is quality lurking within and, perhaps, it will only need one moment for it all to start flooding out. But, as things stand, he can’t buy a goal. His penalty was as bad as the header he botched in the last minute at the Stadium of Light but there was no recrimination from within. Emery praised his efforts, while his captain stood up for him. ‘He is not scoring right now – that’s fine, ’ said Mc Ginn. ‘We know the work he is doing for the team and we won’t put any pressure on him: he’s been top class for us. ’ Ollie Watkins missed a penalty and he has not been the same player now for a lengthy period Easier said than done. There has been upheaval behind the scenes this week, speculation about Emery’s future – which he robustly rejected – and the sense that the players have plateaued after three years of persistent progress. Fulham, Feyenoord and Burnley await before the international break but then it gets really hard: the worry for Emery, as things stand, is that opponents will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of playing them. It’s not going to get smoother any time soon. ‘We have won, that is the most important thing, ’ said Emery. ‘We are trying hard to be strong again. ’ ASTON VILLA (4-2-2-2):  Bizot 6: Cash 6, Konsa 6, Torres 7, Maatsen 6: Mc Ginn 8, Kamara 7: Guessand 6, Rogers 5: Malen 6. 5 (Watkins 58mins 5), Buendia 7. 5 (Sancho 58mins 6) Goals: Mc Ginn (13) Booked: Mc Ginn, Cash Manager: Unai Emery 6 BOLOGNA (4-3-3): Skorupski 6: Zortea 6, Vitik 7, Lucumi 6, Lykogiannis 6: Ferguson 7, Freuler 6, Odgaard 7: Bernardeschi 6, Castro 7, Cambiaghi 6, Goals: None Booked: Vitik, Lucumi Manager: Vincenzo Italiano 6 Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) 6

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