00:06Two years on from their Conference League quarter-final encounter, Lille and Aston Villa lock horns.
00:12Their line-up shows two changes from the most recent European engagement in the
00:17playoffs. Nabya Amadou Ananas in midfield, Jadon Sancho returns to the starting
00:21line-up at the expense of Leon Bailey. Lille against Aston Villa.
00:28And it's the home side who get us under way. Villa playing in there, squirt away from
00:34Borgen Rogers. This is Santos into Haraldsson. Again managed to keep hold of possession even
00:44though he was forced out as Andre sends it forward. Thiago Santos with a chance to cross
00:50and it's just wide. And Giroud so nearly gave Lille the lead there with that flashing head-up.
00:57Pressure on the Villa goal. Mundy sends it forward. Get up says the referee. No free kick.
01:02His record against tonight's opponents was absolutely outstanding when he was in England.
01:07And there as he just leant forward to get his head on it. Couldn't quite turn it inside the far
01:16post.
01:21But he still snuck it. Three attempts from the home side, couple for Villa. That's it so far.
01:28But here come Lille looking to get their foot on the accelerator and the save by Martinez back on their
01:35heels.
01:37Here the shot from Pero saved by Martinez who couldn't hold on to the ball.
01:44But Pau Torres was on hand to get rid of it quickly.
01:49Before Giroud tied it up by Pau Torres. Strong finish to the first half from Lille here.
01:56Pegging Villa back. Haraldsson.
02:01Here's Perra.
02:05Well Villa haven't offered anything up front so far in this match. They haven't looked like scoring at all.
02:13Not so far anyway. Watkins to collect. Roughly 30 seconds or so remaining before the break.
02:26Sancho with the throw. If they want to create something they'll probably need to do it quite quickly.
02:31And it goes from Watkins. Met by Benback. Haraldsson away.
02:35Nana collecting. Louise.
02:40Referee Sanchez has had a little look at his watch.
02:50It's with Morgan Rogers.
02:52Oh brilliant play by Rogers. It's absolutely wonderful and he's still going.
03:00Villa eventually falls back.
03:03But now it's there. Turn to finish on the front foot.
03:06And it's into Rogers once more and it takes a deflection.
03:10Villa want a corner and I think that will do it for the first half.
03:14Villa suddenly bursting into life just before the referee blew the whistle for the half time into
03:20Mandi at the break. Benjamin AndrƩ there the captain of Lille looking concerned.
03:25It appears he might have an injury issue. Stalemate at the Pierre Maurois in this first half.
03:31Fit again in the squad and on the bench today.
03:36I wonder if you'll see him between now and the final whistle.
03:39Villa with a big match at Old Trafford against Manchester United coming up on Sunday.
03:45The race there for Villa.
03:51He sends it forward. Here goes Perrault.
03:55Into Matthias Fernandes Pardo now.
03:58A growing sense of excitement among the home crowd every time they venture forward towards the edge
04:04of Villa's penalty area. Bentele floats it in. Giroud with a header.
04:23And now we're in in France.
04:32Stalemate. Villa without an attempt on target in the game.
04:36Two for Lille.
04:40Quindia in the air. In towards Watkins. Over the keeper and in.
04:46Villa's first attempt on target in the whole match.
04:50It's taken an hour, but it was worth waiting for.
04:56Oli Watkins heads home.
05:00One goal in 12 before tonight, but he's all smiles now.
05:05And it's his first European goal of the season.
05:11Lille nil, Aston Villa one.
05:24It was Esri Concer who picked the pass.
05:28The header on from Buendia, one of the smaller players on the pitch.
05:33And then Watkins kept his eye on it.
05:35And the looping...
05:37Remember McGinn's on the bench there.
05:39Captain after missing the last 10 before today with a knee injury.
05:42The flick there from Rodgers not coming off.
05:45Bogard steps in and Rodgers heading it on.
05:48Now it's with Sancho.
05:50Home crowd will be sitting a little uneasily here.
05:53Jadon Sancho sends it in.
05:56Diving for it was Buendia back out to Rodgers.
06:00And Anana!
06:02Not far away from 2-0.
06:05Suddenly Villa carrying a threat.
06:09Blocked by Bentaleb the first time.
06:12Here's the shot from Anana.
06:16Hitting the angle of post and bar.
06:21Thiago Silva...
06:22Thiago Santos, I should say, going off.
06:28Mernier on for him.
06:34And Mukao, the other player, going off.
06:37Mukao, Mukao, Mukao, Mukao, Mukao, Mukao, Mukao, Mukao, Mukao.
06:45Fernandes Pardo just looking for an opening.
06:47Still going, still going!
06:49Bringing the diving save from Emi Martinez.
06:52And the volume goes up.
06:54And a few more decibels.
06:56And that was a decent save there from Martinez.
07:01The shot from Fernandes Pardo, the substitute.
07:07Lille knocking on their door.
07:11Isamandi away to the far side.
07:13And Mernier.
07:15Here's one goal going to be enough for a halfway lead in this tie.
07:19Might they need more?
07:21Here's Rodgers with the ball in.
07:23And it's met by Buendia.
07:25And it's just wide.
07:28Villa suddenly sending it from one end of the field to the other.
07:33Mundy with the initial interception.
07:37Floated in by Morgan Rodgers.
07:40And met on the volley acrobatically by Elliott.
07:44Waiting for someone to arrive on the near side.
07:46But Villa safely see it out for a halfway lead.
07:50In this last 16 tie.
07:52The job far from done.
07:53The match and the tie.
07:54The match we put together.
07:55Bye.
07:55Bye.
07:55Bye-bye.
07:55Bye.
07:55Bye.
07:56Bye-bye.
07:56Bye-bye.
07:56Bye-bye.
07:56Bye-bye.
07:57Bye-bye.
07:59Bye-bye.
08:00You
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