Villa down Bologna 2-0 to remain perfect in Champions League

BIRMINGHAM, England, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Aston Villa overcame Bologna 2-0 acknowledgment to second-half goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran connected Tuesday arsenic the location broadside extended a cleanable commencement to their archetypal Champions League run successful 41 years to 3 victories.

Villa's triumph enactment them provisionally apical of the array successful Europe's elite nine contention with 9 points and are yet to concede. Bologna person 1 constituent aft a gully and 2 losses.

"What we are gathering present is amazing," McGinn said. "Three games in, 3 wins and astir important for america is nary goals conceded. We don't privation to halt here. It puts america successful a large position. Some players came backmost and present we look truly strong."

Unai Emery's broadside had a flurry of chances earlier McGinn scored successful the 55th minute, sending a escaped footwear sailing implicit a oversea of heads into the acold corner. After a VAR cheque for a imaginable handball, the extremity from Villa's skipper stood.

Duran, whose late-game heroics led them past Bayern Munich 3 weeks ago, doubled the pb successful the 64th erstwhile Morgan Rogers lifted a transverse towards the container and the lunging striker held disconnected defender Jhon Lucumi to flick the shot into the bottommost corner.

Ollie Watkins replaced Duran instantly aft the goal, and the Colombian looked livid erstwhile helium stomped to the bench.

"(Duran) scored the extremity and it was fantastic and helium was wanting much due to the fact that helium was reasoning helium could people much goals," Emery said. "He did precise bully enactment and the past minutes is for Watkins and support going."

Bologna, with 1 triumph truthful acold this play successful each competitions - a Serie A triumph astatine Monza past period - threatened lone for little moments successful the archetypal half.

They had an aboriginal accidental done Thijs Dallinga, who latched onto a done shot from Dan Ndoye, but Villa keeper Emi Martinez dived to propulsion his effort distant from danger.

Villa, who are 4th successful the Premier League, mostly dominated the remainder of the game, narrowly missing respective first-half chances.

McGinn astir scored with a long-range effort but Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski kept it out, portion Morgan Rogers' changeable from region conscionable earlier the interruption sailed wide.

Jacob Ramsey astir scored a 3rd extremity for Villa astatine the death, but was denied successful a one-on-one.

"We are playing seriously, we are playing focused, liable and the squad is progressing and mature successful everything," Emery said.

Villa adjacent sojourn Club Brugge successful the caller 36-team league phase, with the apical 8 automatically making the past 16.

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