Aston Villa will play Lille at Villa Park this evening, looking to maintain their 1-0 lead and advance to the European quarter-finals for the third year in a row.
Under manager Unai Emery, Villa is just 90 minutes away from the last eight after a solid performance in the away leg. The team is on a six-match winning streak in the Europa League and hopes to leverage their perfect home record—four wins out of four this season—to secure a spot in the next round.
Aston Villa team news
Unai Emery’s squad welcomes back a key player but faces challenges due to domestic eligibility rules. Jadon Sancho returns after missing the last league match, expected to join Morgan Rogers and John McGinn in attack.
Ollie Watkins will lead the front line, aiming to score in consecutive European matches for the first time since 2024, with a history of finding the net against Lille. Matty Cash will undergo a late fitness test, while Ross Barkley and Youri Tielemans will not feature in tonight’s match.
Emiliano Martínez will start in goal, supported by a defense likely to include Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres. In midfield, Douglas Luiz and Amadou Onana will provide stability, allowing the creative players to assist Watkins.
Villa has won their last six matches in this competition, a streak they aim to continue to match Chelsea’s English record. However, they must be cautious of a Lille side that previously won at Villa Park in 2002 and is eager to break their poor record against English teams.
Aston Villa predicted lineup
Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Luiz, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins
When will the match kick off?
The Europa League match is set for Thursday, 19 March 2026, with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Lille?
Fans in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1. Highlights will be available soon after the match ends on the discovery+ platform.
Read more- How seven Premier League teams could qualify for next season’s Champions League
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