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Bologna FC 1909 v Aston Villa FC - UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg

Bologna vs Aston Villa: Winners & losers

Aston Villa seized a commanding first-leg advantage in their Europa League quarter-final with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna. Unai Emery's tactical masterclass silenced the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and established the Villans as the undisputed favourites to reach the final four.

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Aston Villa Europa League Unai Emery 2025-26

Thirty-year trophy wait over?! Villa told how to keep Emery

Aston Villa are being backed to complete a memorable double in 2026, with Champions League qualification being secured through their Premier League standing and a first trophy win in 30 years. Former Villans defender Richard Dunne has told GOAL how landing major silverware and finishing strongly in top-flight competition can help to keep Unai Emery on board.

Aston VillaU. Emery

Betting spotlight

Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa Predictions, Lineups, Odds & Tips: Survival meets ambition
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Vitor Pereira Nottingham Forest 2025-26

Pereira: Forest have quality for Spurs clash

Vitor Pereira has hailed his side's character and squad depth after Nottingham Forest secured a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Midtjylland to reach the Europa League quarter-finals. The Portuguese tactician expressed his delight at the performance of his fringe players as the club now prepares for a pivotal Premier League showdown against Tottenham.

V. PereiraNottingham Forest
James McAtee Nottingham Forest 2025-26

McAtee's Forest struggles prompt 'difficult conversation'

James McAtee has endured a tough time at Nottingham Forest following his £30 million ($40m) transfer from Manchester City, with the 23-year-old playmaker prompting a “difficult conversation”. Former Reds striker Marlon Harewood has told GOAL why struggles for a spark at the City Ground are difficult to understand, with McAtee clearly a talented individual.

J. McAteeNottingham Forest

Frequently asked questions

Barcelona are the most successful Copa del Rey side in history, winning the cup 31 times, seven more than Athletic Bilbao and 11 more than bitter rivals Real Madrid. Their first-ever Copa del Rey win came in the 1909-10 season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Catalans have lifted this trophy six times.

Currently, as many as 126 teams participate in the Copa del Rey, starting at the top from La Liga and going all the way down to the Tercera Federacion, the fifth tier in Spanish football league system. In its inaugural edition in 1903, just three teams (Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, and Madrid FC) took part.

Former Athletic Bilbao and Spain forward Piru Gainza is Copa del Rey's record-appearance maker ever, featuring in 99 games in the cup competition.

Iconic Spanish forward Telmo Zarra is Copa del Rey's all-time top scorer, finding the back of the net on 81 occasions between 1939 and 1957. All those goals came in an Athletic Bilbao shirt.

CD Bunol goalkeeper Paco is the oldest player to ever feature in a Copa del Rey game, achieving the feat against Real Sociedad in 2023 at the age of 44 years and 231 days.

Armando Sagi is the youngest player to ever feature in a Copa del Rey game. Playing for Barcelona, Sagi was just 15 years and 339 days old when he made his debut in the competition on April 2, 1922.

Antoine Griezmann, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Neymar, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Telmo Zarra, Sergio Busquets, Roberto Carlos, Luis Suarez, and Xavi are some of the most famous players to have played in the Copa del Rey.

Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique, Juande Ramos, Claudio Ranieri, Louis van Gaal, Sir Bobby Robson, Cesar Menotti, Miguel Munoz, and Ferdinand Daucik are some of Copa del Rey's most famous mangers.

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