OLLIE GOOD!
Watkins and Mcginn on target before Lille grab vital late lifeline
UNAI EMERY celebrated 1,000 matches as a manager and just about had a grand old time.
The Spaniard wore a thin smile of satisfaction at the final whistle as strikes in each half from Ollie Watkins and John Mcginn looked to have ensured that his landmark achievement would be remembered with fondness.
However, a late Bafode Diakite header ruined an otherwise satisfactory evening and left this tie against slick opponents very much in the balance.
And while Villa’s goalscorers grabbed the glory at one end of the pitch, the hero was at the other as keeper Emi Martinez put on a performance that was worthy of watching dignitary and celebrity Villa fan Prince William.
The Argentine made a string of important saves throughout as Emery’s men set themselves up for next week’s return in France with a single-goal buffer.
It promises to be a spiky affair, too, after a fracas as the teams headed for the tunnel at the interval.
Villa were ahead by that stage after an early spell of pressure paid dividends. After two close scrapes, Lille’s goal was finally breached when Mcginn swung over a corner from the right.
Watkins was unmarked and nodded home at the far post.
Lille’s players charged after referee Espen Eskas, convinced there had been a foul that led to the failure to pick up the goalscorer inside the six-yard box.
VAR checked the incident but the officials gave it the green light, despite Morgan Rogers appearing to block a challenge. However, Lille proved they were not here just to make up the numbers, with Emi Martinez coming to the rescue three times before the break.
He saved first from Edon Zhegrova, then Diakite strode forward from centre-half and needed to be stopped.
Finally, in-form striker Jonathan David, nicknamed ‘The Iceman,’ lost his cool when he needed it most.
But it was spiky off the pitch as well as on it as the two benches needed to be separated as they went for the tunnel at the interval. When play resumed, Lille’s goalkeeping coach Antonio Ferreira and Emery’s assistant Pako Ayestaran were watching from the stands, along with another of Villa’s backroom staff.
Villa piled forward after the break and were rewarded when Bailey slipped over as he crossed from the left.
Mcginn turned it into the perfect assist, sidefooting home from the edge of the area. Villa Park went wild.
But just as the hosts thought they had taken a giant step towards the last four, they were reminded that the tie was still in the balance.
Tiago Santos crossed for Gabriel Gudmundsson who thumped home at the far post. Lille’s fans celebrated only for VAR to rule out the goal for offside.
They celebrated for real, however, six minutes from time when Villa switched off at a corner and defender Diakite rose to nod home at the near post.
ASTON VILLA: Martinez 9, Konsa 6, Carlos 6, Torres 6, Digne 6 (Moreno 74), Luiz 7, Mcginn 7, Tielemans 6, (Iroegbunam 81) Rogers 5; (Zaniolo 63, 5) Bailey 6; (Diaby
74) Watkins 8 (Duran 81)
LILLE: Chevalier 7, Santos 8, Yoro 6, Diakite 6 (Alexsandro 86), Ismaily 6; Bentaleb 6, Andre 7; Zhegrova 5 (Yazici 59, 5) Gudmundsson 5, (Gomes 78) Haraldsson 6, (Cabella 78), David 5
REFEREE: Espen Eskas