Aston Villa’s recent performance under Unai Emery has been impressive, almost miraculous.

With three straight victories in the Champions League, the manager now faces a unique challenge: keeping two of his star strikers, Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, satisfied.

This balancing act could prove to be one of his greatest tests yet.

Duran’s Frustration

Duran was in high spirits after scoring a crucial goal that solidified Villa’s winning streak, but his mood quickly soured when he was substituted for Watkins before the game resumed.

The displeasure on Watkins’ face was apparent, but it paled in comparison to Duran’s outburst.

The Colombian vented his frustration by kicking and punching the seats around him, which required intervention from a staff member to calm him down.

With 20 minutes left in the match, Duran stormed off down the tunnel, highlighting his dissatisfaction.

Although Duran has just signed a lucrative new contract, his frustration may linger if he finds himself benched again during the upcoming clash against Bournemouth.

So far this season, Duran has netted seven goals, while Watkins has scored five.

Strategic Decisions Ahead

Emery has the option to play both strikers together, but that would mean altering the role of his most effective attacker, Morgan Rogers.

Rogers has thrived playing alongside both forwards and, while he can play in wide positions, Emery is hesitant to move him from the center where he’s been so successful.

As one of the highest-paid managers in the world, Emery is expected to navigate these tricky situations.

His efforts have already yielded results, with Villa currently sitting fourth in the Premier League.

A couple more wins in their remaining group matches could see them advance to the Champions League knockout stage without needing a playoff.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

Villa almost took an early lead when Leon Bailey found space along the touchline.

However, Morgan Rogers misfired his cut-back, allowing Duran to take a shot that was ultimately blocked.

At the other end, Bologna’s Dan Ndoye posed a threat, managing to get a shot off that required a significant save from Villa’s goalkeeper, Emi Martinez.

Despite dominating possession, Villa struggled to convert their chances into goals in the first half.

John McGinn’s attempts to set up Ian Maatsen resulted in a blocked shot from distance, while Bologna’s goalkeeper, Lukasz Skorupski, made crucial saves against efforts from Duran and McGinn.

A moment of excitement for the home fans came when Tyrone Mings, returning from a long-term injury, began warming up on the sidelines.

This marked his first appearance in a matchday squad since the start of the previous season.

A Tactical Shift

At the beginning of the second half, Emery replaced Amadou Onana with Ross Barkley, who was struggling with discomfort in his hamstring.

Bologna also made a substitution, bringing on Jens Odgaard for Riccardo Orsolini, who had a tough time dealing with Villa’s left-side attack.

Villa maintained a high tempo as they pushed forward, with Ezri Konsa coming close to scoring from a corner kick.

Meanwhile, Ndoye continued to be Bologna’s standout player, creating opportunities, though his teammate Posch failed to convert a good chance.

The match took a turn when McGinn’s perfectly placed free-kick caused chaos in the Bologna defense, leading to a second goal for Villa.

Initially, it seemed the scoreboard mistakenly credited both goals to McGinn, but a VAR check confirmed the situation, as the ball had not touched Barkley on its way in.

Just moments later, Emery prepared to make a triple substitution with Watkins, Jacob Ramsey, and Jaden Philogene ready to come on.

However, Duran made one final mark on the game by scoring again, a moment that preceded the substitutions and showcased his talents before he exited the pitch.