IT’S A J-OLLIE GOOD SHOW FOR WATKINS 2 A VILLA ....... 1
WAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring the opener
UNAI Emery celebrated reaching 1000 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 what was an otherwise satisfactory evening and left this tie against slick opponents very much in the balance.
Grabbed
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 two of Villa’s backroom staff and Lille’s goalkeeping coach were dismissed 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.
Scrapes
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 from inside the sixyard box.
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 box.
VAR checked the incident but the officials gave it the green light.
However, Lille proved they weren’t here just to make up the numbers with Martinez coming to the rescue three times before the break.
When play resumed in the second half, 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.
The hosts doubled their lead when a short corner ended with Leon Bailey slipping over. McGinn turned it into the perfect assist, sidefooting home from the edge of the area.
Giant
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 Diakite rose to nod home unopposed and seal the win.
(4-4-1-1): 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).
(4-2-3-1): 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 (Nor) 7.