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Europa League Predictions - 9 April 2025, Quarter-finals

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 07 Apr 2026

Simon Lewis 07 Apr 2026

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Bologna set to lose at home to Aston Villa.
Porto to beat plucky Forest but without a clean sheet.
Freiburg to bounce back from a pair of defeats to draw with Celta Vigo.

Expired

Notts Forest defend against Midtjylland (Getty Images).

Europa League Predictions, Quarter-finals

Europa League Predictions, Quarter-finals
Bologna vs Aston Villa
FC Porto vs Notts Forest
Freiburg vs Celta Vigo

Bologna vs Aston Villa

Bologna have secured 7 wins and a draw in their last 10 matches but they have been poor at home. Just 2 wins at home in 12 matches, with 7 defeats isn't likely to strike fear into their visitors. They have just 9 goals in that stretch and have been goalless in 4 of those matches, so it’s certainly no fortress they have built at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna.

After a 4-match winless streak Villa have cobbled together 3 wins in 5 matches. What’s impressive is their away form, with 9 wins and 2 draws in their last 14 matches on the road. They have kept 4 clean sheets in 8 away matches and look good value for an away win, with Bologna to score 1 goal or less.

FC Porto vs Notts Forest

Porto are 5 points clear at the top of Liga Portugal, while Forest are fighting for the Premier League survival just 3 points clear of the drop zone. Forest beat Porto 2-0 at home in the group stages of the competition and have had a good run in Europe, but their recent form has been patchy. They lost 4 and drew 2 in a 6-match stretch before winning their last 2 matches, both away to Danish side Midtjylland and fellow relegation strugglers Spurs.

Porto have lost just 1 of their last 10 matches, with 4 clean sheets and on home turf they’ve won 11 and drawn 2 of their last 13 matches. Forest have 5 wins on the road and 4 defeats in their last 10 on the road, averaging 2 goals per match. Forest’s European dream ends here, but I’m backing both teams to score.

Freiburg vs Celta Vigo

Freiburg have lost 4 of their last 7 matches, failing to score in 3 of those matches. They pushed Bayern Munich hard in a 2-3 defeat at home in their last match. Freiburg were undefeated at home in 17 matches before losing 2 of their last 3 matches.

Celta Vigo have secured 6 wins and 2 draws in their last 10 matches and are looking strong, with one of their 2 defeats being 2-1 at home to Real Madrid. Celta are undefeated in their last 8 matches on the road, winning 4 of their last 5, so I’m backing them to earn a score draw.

Verdict

UEFA Europa League

Wins for Aston Villa and Porto, with Freiburg to draw with Celta Vigo.

Aston Villa Win

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Porto Win

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Freiburg Draw

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.