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Français (Afrique)Bologna vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news
Unai Emery and his Aston Villa squad return to continental action on Thursday as they visit the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara for a high-stakes quarter-final first leg.
The Villans arrive in Italy fresh from a lengthy break following their 2–0 victory over West Ham United. While the hunt for a Premier League top-four finish remains intense, the Europa League offers a realistic path to silverware.
Emery, a four-time winner of this competition, looks to guide Villa to their first major continental trophy since the 1980s. Historically, the Birmingham side has held the upper hand in this fixture, winning both previous European meetings against the Rossoblu.
Bologna enter their first major European quarter-final since 1999 with a point to prove against their English rivals. Vincenzo Italiano’s men showed incredible grit to eliminate Roma in a 5–4 thriller during the previous round.
Although they sit nine points adrift of the European spots in Serie A, their continental form has been historic. The Italian side is currently unbeaten in 11 European matches, with their only defeat in the last 15 coming against Villa.
Bologna vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 9 April 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
- Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI)
- VAR: Fedayi San (SUI)
- Last Meeting: Aston Villa 1–0 Bologna (August 2025, UEL)
Team news
Aston Villa
Unai Emery expects to have Youri Tielemans available for a starting role after several weeks on the sidelines. Crucially, captain John McGinn is back to full fitness and looks to become the first Villan to score 10 European goals.
However, the visitors will be without Jadon Sancho, who suffered a shoulder injury during a recent friendly. Boubacar Kamara remains injured, while Ross Barkley is ineligible for the knockout stages.
Bologna
Vincenzo Italiano manages a squad thinned by recent injuries and a defensive suspension for Martin Vitik. Federico Ravaglia continues to deputise in goal with Lukasz Skorupski still unavailable.
On a positive note, Spanish left-back Juan Miranda returns after serving a UEFA ban. Notably, English winger Jonathan Rowe poses the primary threat, having contributed to five goals in his last six European appearances.
Form
Bologna
Bologna have proven incredibly difficult to beat on home soil, losing just once in their last 15 European outings. Their recent 2–1 victory over Cremonese has provided a timely boost to squad morale. Furthermore, they are looking to become the first Italian side since Fiorentina to reach a 12-game unbeaten streak in Europe.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa travel to Italy on a seven-match winning streak in the UEFA Europa League. Another victory would see them join an elite group of English clubs to win eight consecutive major European games. Additionally, Villa’s defence has been imperious against Italian opposition, keeping four consecutive clean sheets in recent years.
Predicted lineups
Bologna Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ravaglia; João Mário, Casale, Lucumi, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe
Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendía, Rogers; Watkins
How to watch Bologna vs Aston Villa?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2. Coverage is also available via the Discovery+ and HBO Max streaming platforms.
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2026 NFL draft: OL Francis Mauigoa undergoes medical recheck
The Arizona Cardinals have been connected to Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa for months as a potential target for them at the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Nothing has been said about any potential red flags with his health, but perhaps there should be one.
Per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Mauigoa decided to go to Indianapolis last week as part of the NFL combine health recheck.
He wanted to have imaging done on his back, as he had a minor issue that caused him discomfort at the end of the season, although he did not miss any games. He started 42 consecutive games to end his college career.
He doesn't need surgery and has no symptoms of it, although some teams requested further testing.
Rapoport notes that this is not expected to cause him to fall in the draft, but it will be something to watch.
After all, Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson, projected as an early first-round pick, fell to the 47th pick because of a supposed knee issue for which he had no symptoms.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2026 NFL draft: OL Francis Mauigoa undergoes medical recheck
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Match preview and team news
Crystal Palace make club history tonight as they welcome Fiorentina to Selhurst Park for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final.
The Eagles have moved into their first-ever major European quarter-final following a hard-fought 2–1 aggregate victory over AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16.
Manager Oliver Glasner oversees a squad that has shown remarkable resolve in continental competition, remaining unbeaten in Europe this season.
Palace sit 14th in the Premier League but see this tournament as a unique opportunity to secure their first major piece of silverware.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, travel to South London with significant European pedigree, having reached the final of this competition in both 2023 and 2024. Under coach Paolo Vanoli, the Viola have found form at the right time, entering this tie following a Serie A win over Hellas Verona.
They reached the last eight by defeating Raków Częstochowa 4–2 on aggregate. Notably, this is the first competitive meeting between these two sides, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the encounter.
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 9 April 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Selhurst Park, London
- Referee: Donatas Rumšas (LTU)
- VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
- Last Meeting: First competitive meeting
Team news
Crystal Palace
The Eagles suffered a late double blow ahead of tonight’s clash. Notably, Eddie Nketiah is ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury in the final minutes of Wednesday’s training session.
Consequently, Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to lead the line. Adam Wharton is fit to feature in midfield after a minor knock during the international break. Dean Henderson also returns to the starting eleven after missing the last two matches through illness.
Fiorentina
The visitors are without their leading goalscorer, Moise Kean, who is struggling with a tibia injury. Furthermore, Fabiano Parisi and Manor Solomon are also unavailable for the trip to London.
Notably, former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea captains the side, while English winger Jonathan Rowe is expected to start after being involved in five goals in his last six European appearances.
Form
Crystal Palace
Palace have been imperious at Selhurst Park in Europe, keeping three clean sheets in their four home matches this term. While their domestic form has been inconsistent, the Eagles have shown clinical edge in the knockout stages. Statistically, Palace have a 70% progression rate in two-legged ties throughout their history.
Fiorentina
Fiorentina arrive in London unbeaten in their last three matches, including an impressive draw against league leaders Inter. The Viola have excelled in the latter stages of this competition recently, but have struggled to secure clean sheets on the road. They are currently 15th in Serie A, making the Conference League their primary target for the season.
Predicted lineups
Crystal Palace Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Johnson, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand; Mateta
Fiorentina Predicted XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Kayode, Martínez Quarta, Ranieri, Biraghi; Fagioli, Mandragora, Richardson; Bernardeschi, Beltrán, Rowe
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina?
The match will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage begins at 19:00 BST.
Read more- Nottingham Forest set massive asking price for Elliot Anderson
See Also- “He has the DNA” – Amad backs Carrick for Manchester United job
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Where to watch NCA, NDA College Nationals: Schedule, channel, live stream for 2026 cheer and dance championships
Where to watch NCA, NDA College Nationals: Schedule, channel, live stream for 2026 cheer and dance championships originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There's no competition quite as big as this one. The NCA and NDA College Nationals are returning to Daytona Beach this week for another edition.
For many college athletes, this competition marks the pinnacle of their career. The National Cheerleader and Dance Associations host these College Nationals each year on the "bandshell" stage in Florida, just feet away from the ocean.
Netflix's show "Cheer" gave ordinary viewers a glimpse into the intensity of College Nationals, following Navarro College's powerhouse program through several seasons from 2019-21. Though the show is no longer filming, fans can still watch the Bulldogs as they perform in the 2026 competition.
Make sure to tune in for the action.
Here's everything you need to know about the NCA and NDA College Nationals, including TV channel and streaming options for the competition in Daytona Beach.
Where to watch NCA, NDA College Nationals
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream:Varsity TV
The 2026 NCA and NDA College Nationals will not be broadcast nationally. Instead, each day of the competition can be streamed on Varsity TV.
A re-broadcast will be streamed on a 24-hour delay.
2026 NCA, NDA College Nationals start time
- Date: Wednesday, April 8 – Saturday, April 11
- Time: 8 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET
The 2026 NCA and NDA College Nationals will start on Wednesday, April 8, and continue through Saturday, April 11, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Performances will go from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET each day, depending on the flow of competition.
There will be three venues for performances — Ocean Center Arena, Ocean Center Hall and the outdoor Bandshell.
2026 NCA, NDA College Nationals schedule
Competition will be split up into several divisions, like All-Girl, Small Co-ed, Large Co-ed and Game Day on the cheerleading side, and Jazz, Team, Dance Spirit and Hip-Hop on the dance side.
For a block schedule of all three days, click here.