Aston Villa v Lille: Europa League predicted line-up, team news and match preview
Aston Villa are 90 minutes away from a quarter-final place in the Europa League. A win or a draw against Lille on Thursday would take them through.
Villa face the Ligue 1 side at Villa Park after winning 1-0 in the away leg a week earlier. Ollie Watkins scored the goal, which could give them a crucial advantage heading into the second leg.
Manager Unai Emery will need to find the appropriate strategy for a finely balanced tie, deciding between getting the job done quickly or embracing the fact that Villa don’t need to force the issue.
Now or never for the Villa
For various reasons, the pressure is on at Villa Park. The second leg against Lille has become a game of vital importance for Villa, whose dual objectives of winning a trophy and reaching the Champions League could now both come down to their ability to win the Europa League.
That doesn’t leave much room for error so it’s a welcome boost that Villa do at least have a small cushion in the specific context of this round of 16 tie.
The reason for the pressure is obvious. Whatever Villa are going to achieve in the next few years, they’re going to achieve it now. Circumstances – financial restrictions, Europa League progress and even the as yet undefined shape of the club when Emery eventually leaves – will make sure of that.
This tournament is an opportunity, then, but it’s one that could disappear in an instant. The stakes are as high as they could be, and with hopes of a top five finish in the league deteriorating, the jeopardy is stifling.
Villa’s only hope is to go through, then to go through again. The Europa League can’t be prioritised at the total expense of the Premier League, but it does now feel like a more meaningful target than ever.
Villa team news
Emery is still without injured midfield pair Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans. Alysson and Ross Barkley have not been included in the Europa League squad and will therefore not feature. Alysson has sustained a minor injury too.
Jadon Sancho is available again after he was ineligible to play in the most recent Premier League fixture against parent club Manchester United.
Villa supporters are awaiting an update on the availability of Matty Cash, whose fitness was assessed before the trip to Old Trafford before he was ruled out, and Emi Buendía, who left the field with an injury on Sunday.
Harvey Elliott and Andrés García were both named on the bench for that game and will be available for selection at Villa Park on Thursday.
Villa predicted line-up v Lille
Assuming there’s no desire or ability to include Cash or Buendía, I think Emery’s team selection in terms of the front six could be quite straightforward.
John McGinn is back and spent some of the game at Old Trafford in a central 10 position, which the return of Sancho could allow again if Morgan Rogers is needed to float in off the left.
Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen are, I think, the ambitious match-winning combination on the left side of the defence. It might be a misreading of Emery to predict he’ll look for that, but there’s an opportunity here to put the tie away and I reckon he’ll push for an early goal.
Where to watch Villa v Lille
Villa’s home game against Lille will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1.
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➡️ How to watch Aston Villa v Lille in the UK: kick-off time, live streams and TV channels
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