Aston Villa, struggling for consistency and no longer assured of a top-four finish in the Premier League, will look to regain some momentum and reach a European quarter-final for the third straight season when Lille come to Villa Park on Thursday night.
Ollie Watkins’ goal, from Villa’s only attempt on target, with a little more than an hour played in the first leg has given the Premier League side a slender advantage against their French visitors.
It also marked Unai Emery’s 100th win as Villa head coach, a milestone achieved in a club record 181 matches.
But they followed it up with a 3-1 defeat away to Manchester United last Sunday as their grip on a Champions League place continues to loosen because of one win from seven in the league. That places an even greater importance on Villa delivering a performance to secure their progress in Emery’s favourite competition.
Here’s everything you need to know
When is Aston Villa v Lille?
Kick-off is at 8pm at Villa Park on Thursday 19 March.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+. Build-up will be from 7pm.
Team news
Emi Buendia faces a fitness test after hobbling off late on at Old Trafford, while Matty Cash remains a doubt, having missed the past two games owing to a calf issue. Youri Tielemans (ankle) and Boubacar Kamara (knee) remain absent, while Ross Barkley, who scored away to United, is not part of the Europa League squad.
Lille travel to the Midlands without Hamza Igamane (knee), Ethan Mbappe Lottin (thigh), Marc-Aurele Caillard (elbow), Osame Sahraoui (groin) and Ousmane Toure (knee), although Olivier Giroud could return to the XI having dropped to the bench for their weekend win away to Rennes.
Possible line-ups
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Luiz, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Lille XI: Ozer; Santos, Mbemba, Mandi, Perraud; Bentaleb, Andre; Mukasu, Haraldsson, Perrin; Giroud.
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