[Pre-Match Thread] Aston Villa vs. Lille (Europa League – Round of 16)

Aston Villa vs. Lille

(Agg 1-0)

Competition: Europa League – Round of 16

Date: Thu 19 Mar 2026

Kickoff: 20:00

Venue: Villa Park

Referee: Davide Massa

Aston Villa Statistics (all competitions)

Form: DLLWL

Goals per match: 1.4

Average Possession: 54.2%

Goals conceded per match: 1.2

Pass Accuracy: 85.6%

Shots per game: 12.4

Tackles per game: 15

Clean Sheets: 13

Lille Statistics (all competitions)

Form: WWDLW

Goals per match: 1.4

Average Possession: 55.4%

Goals conceded per match: 1.3

Pass Accuracy: 84.9%

Shots per game: 13.8

Tackles per game: 15.1

Clean Sheets: 13

TEAM NEWS COMING SOON

Match Facts

• Aston Villa’s only previous time hosting Lille in major European competition came in the 2023-24 UEFA Conference League, winning 2-1 in the first leg of a quarter-final tie; the Villans lost 2-1 in the second leg but did eventually progress on penalties.

• Lille have never won on nine previous visits to England in major European competition (D1 L8), losing their last seven in a row since a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Villa have won each of their last six UEFA Europa League games and the only English team to put together a longer winning streak in the competition are Chelsea between April 2013 and November 2018, an eight-match run which encompassed the 2012-13 final.

• Lille have lost six games in the UEFA Europa League this season, their outright most defeats in a major European campaign – they have also lost three of their last four away matches, but did beat Crvena Zvezda 2-0 in the previous round.

• Ollie Watkins will be looking to score in back-to-back major European appearances for the first time since April 2024, when the second goal came against Lille in the UEFA Conference League; four of the Englishman’s last five goals in Europe have come in the knockout stages, with Lille one of two sides he has netted more than once against (also AZ).

How are you feeling? What's your starting XI? Predictions? UTV!