Ollie Watkins' second-half brace helped give Aston Villa a comfortable 3-1 lead over Bologna heading into next week's Europa League quarter-final second leg at Villa Park.
Bologna had not tasted defeat in the competition since the opening game of the campaign where Villa beat them 1-0, and Unai Emery's side proved to be their nemesis once again to end their 11-game European unbeaten run at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium.
Bologna thought they had a lead but Santiago Castro's strike was ruled out by VAR for offside before Lewis Ferguson hit the crossbar moments later.
The Premier League side managed to hold on and punished the Italian side with goals either side of half time from Ezri Konsa and Watkins.
Bologna breathed life into the contest when Jonathan Rowe scored late in the day until Watkins' stoppage time effort restored their two-goal advantage.
Nottingham Forest's Europa League hopes remain intact after a comical own goal helped them get out of their quarter-final first leg in Porto with a 1-1 draw.
A much-changed Forest side were under the pump against the Primeira Liga leaders and fell behind to William Gomes' early strike.
But they were gifted a leveller by hapless Porto defender Martim Fernandes, who sent a 25-yard back-pass into his own net.
Forest had a goal disallowed in the second half, but were reliant on goalkeeper Stefan Ortega making a string of important saves to ensure they head back to the City Ground for next week's second leg on level terms.
Importantly, they were able to get the result while still being able to keep a number of their important Premier League players fresh ahead of Sunday's vital clash with Aston Villa.
If Forest can get the job done on home soil next week, it looks highly likely as if Villa will be waiting for them in the semi-final.
Freiburg have a commanding 3-0 lead over Celta Vigo thanks to goals from Vincenzo Grifo, Jan Niklas Beste and Matthias Ginter.
In the Conference League, Crystal Palace romped to a 3-0 win over Fioretina.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, making his first start since January, beat David De Gea from the penalty spot after Dodo fouled Evann Guessand, and Tyrick Mitchell doubled the lead in the 32nd minute after De Gea kept out Mateta's shot.
Ismaila Sarr then struck late on to put Palace in a commanding position.
Three goals in the last 20 minutes from Pedrinho and Alisson Santana - who scored two in three minutes - gave Shakhtar Donetsk a 3-0 win over AZ Alkmaar, for whom Troy Parrott was subbed off on 74 minutes, while Mainz's 2-0 win over Strasbourg came via fine strikes from Kaishu Sano and Stefan Posch.
Rayo Vallecano took control of their quarter-final against AEK Athens with a 3-0 win, with goals from Ilias Akhomach, Unai Lopez and Isi Palazon.
