The Villains took the first leg of the round of 16 and as visitors. With a great goal from Ollie Watkins, Unai Emery’s team won 1-0 away from home. Thus, Aston Villa made headlines by defeating Lille in France.
At the start, Unai Emery’s team was better. In fact, at 19 minutes, they threatened with a right-footed shot from Morgan Rogers that went close to Berke Özer’s right post. Then there was a great collective play initiated by Amadou Onana and finished by the Belgian himself with a cross that Aïssa Mandi just managed to save.
Lille reacted at 43 minutes of the first half. Tiago Santos made an exquisite one-two with Benjamin André, who sent in the cross. However, Olivier Giroud headed just wide. In the next play, Romain Perraud tried from mid-distance, and the whistled Dibu Martínez saved it.
In the second half, they were more cautious than necessary. Even so, the victory went to the Villains. The only goal came from a long ball by Ezri Konsa. Emiliano Buendía flicked it on. And the one who completed it with a lobbed header over the goalkeeper was Watkins.
Lille didn’t want to leave spaces to avoid an even worse defeat. And Aston Villa ended up making the most of it with the 1-0 in France. Beyond that, everything remains completely open in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League.