Lille 1-0 Aston Villa (agg 2-2) – Europa Conference League: Live score, team news and updates as Yusuf Yazici levels things up as Unai Emery’s side look to reach semi-final
Four minutes added on
YELLOW CARD: Lille 1-0 Aston Villa (Andre, Fonseca, Emery)
There’s yellow cards flying all over the place!
Lille captain Benjamin Andre is initially shown a caution after bringing down Morgan Rogers inside his own-half.
Before, moments later, Unai Emery and Paulo Fonseca are shown yellow cards – presumably for contesting with the official’s decision.
YELLOW CARD: Lille 1-0 Aston Villa (Bentaleb)
Lille’s Nabil Bentaleb is shown a yellow card after stopping a counter-attack by pulling his man down.
The former Tottenham midfielder has been controlling a lot of the player so far and Lille will need him to stay on the pitch.
YELLOW CARD: Lille 1-0 Aston Villa (Martinez)
Emiliano Martinez is cautioned by the referee after time-wasting at a goal-kick.
The official sprinted over and appeared to indicate that the Villa goalkeeper had done it multiple times in the match already.
Martinez been the centre of attention this evening and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
Lille 1-0 Aston Villa
Villa are really struggling to find their rhythm.
They’ve offered very little going forward – with Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins having barely touched the ball in the opening half an hour.
They’ll have to figure out a way to get their danger men involved in the match, if they want to salvage this quarter-final tie.
Unai Emery seems to be giving that exact instruction, as he furiously waves to his players from the touchline.
SUBSTITUTION: Lille 1-0 Aston Villa
Nicolo Zaniolo has been forced off with an injury and is replaced by Morgan Rogers.
The Italian appeared to land awkwardly after being challenged on the half-way line and looked uneasy when getting back to his feet.
Martinez and Zaniolo both down
Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy:
Having made a brilliant reaction save from Benjamin Andre, Martinez then collapsed in the back of the goal, hand on his head. He’s back up now but not clear if he was hit by something thrown from the crowd. Meanwhile, stretcher on for Zaniolo who seems to have a problem with his hip
Lille 1-0 Aston Villa
Emiliano Martinez won’t have done his reputation here any favours after producing a stunning save – with his face!
The hosts are not resting on their laurels and nearly found a second goal, as Benjamin Andre flicked a header at goal.
The Villa keeper barely knew anything about it but he won’t mind, as he keeps his side level in the tie.
YELLOW CARD: Lille 1-0 Aston Villa (Zaniolo)
The Villa playmaker is the first player to go into the referee’s book after appearing to push his opponent off the ball.
Nothing cynical in it.
‘Lille opener could give Villa more focus’
Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy:
That might be no bad thing for Villa. As a colleague in the press box next to me just remarked, they were playing as though they had a 2-0 lead to protect, rather than 2-1. Lille’s opener should give Villa a little more focus after such an iffy start.
GOAL!! Lille 1-0 Aston Villa (Yazici)
What a strike from Yusuf Yazici!
The hosts have been dominating the opening stages of this match and have a goal to show for it after a neat link-up unlocked Villa’s defence.
The Turkey international got on the end of a sublime cross by Gabriel Gudmundsson and smashed the ball into the net.
It’s 2-2 on aggregate now. Can Unai Emery’s side find a quick response?
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Are the crowd beginning to get to Emiliano Martinez?
Having been boo’d constantly, the Villa goalkeeper has now spilled a simple cross at a corner, before recovering to palm it away.
Nervy times for the Argentine. And there’s still 80 minutes to play.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
A half-chance for the hosts.
The ball is crossed in at pace and a Villa defender can only swing his leg past the ball before it landed to Hakon Haraldsson.
The 21-year-old, however, also fluffs his lines and can’t make a clean connection with it. Warning signs.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
It’s fair to say that Emiliano Martinez is an unpopular figure in Lille.
In the brief moments when the Aston Villa goalkeeper has had the ball, the home supporters are quick to start jeering.
It seems that his role in Argentina’s World Cup victory over France – and his comments on Kylian Mbappe – have not been forgotten.
KICK-OFF: Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Lille get us underway!
The home crowd are absolutely buzzing with energy now. Will their side put in a performance to match it?
Here come the players!
Both sides are making their way out onto the pitch amidst a cauldron of noise from the home fans.
Villa will have been well prepared for the hostility, prior to kick-off, but it’s fair to say that some nerves will be tested tonight.
Empty home seats despite kick-off looming…
Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy:
Must admit I’m surprised to see so many empty seats 10 minutes before kick-off. The capacity here is 50,000 and the club were expecting about 47,500 (including 2,600 from Villa). Not too much interest from the prawn sandwich seats on the middle tier so far…
McGinn finds his shooting boots
Though it may have gone unnoticed, John McGinn has been enjoying the most prolific goalscoring season of his career.
The Scotland international has nine goals in all competitions – with three of those coming in tonight’s competition.
He’s certainly not one of the first names that comes to mind when thinking who could pop up with a Villa goal but, given his recent form, it’d be foolish to count him out.
‘Keep a close eye on set-pieces’
Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy:
Keep a close eye on set pieces tonight. Lille boss Paulo Fonseca was unhappy with Villa markers’ blocking tactics in the first leg and sent a clear message to the officials pre-match. Villa took a dim view of that, it’s fair to say. There could be fireworks on the touchline as well as the pitch, after Emery’s assistant Pako Ayestaran was sent off in the first leg.
European disasters for Premier League sides
It’s safe to say that, aside from Villa, English sides have been pretty underwhelming in Europe over the past week.
Arsenal and Manchester City were dumped out of the Champions League last night, leaving zero English teams in the competition.
Meanwhile, Liverpool and West Ham both suffered defeats in their Europa League first leg ties – which they’ll look to overturn tonight.
Villa, therefore, can become the first Premier League side to book their place in the semi-finals of a European competition, as long as they avoid a slip-up tonight.
David and Yoro among the ones to watch
Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy:
A few to look out for in the Lille side. Jonathan David has been a consistent scorer in Ligue 1 and will surely move this summer – more from Mail Sport here. Centre-back Leny Yoro struggled against Ollie Watkins but is highly regarded, and I loved the look of Icelandic playmaker Hakon Haraldsson.Meanwhile, Emi Martinez has just come out for the warm up to an absolute volley from the home end. Spicy evening ahead.
The atmosphere is building in Lille…
If you were to take a look at the home supporters in the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, you’d have thought that Lille had just won the tie.
One section of the French fans are already in the stadium and singing their hearts out, as both sets of players begin to warm-up.
There’s been a particularly frosty reception for Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who’s role in Argentina’s World Cup victory has not been forgotten.
Bizarelly, there’s barely anyone else in the stadium.
‘Big call to leave Leon Bailey on the bench’
Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy:
It’ll be fascinating to see Emery’s plan tonight. Big call to leave Bailey on the bench, even though Villa are protecting a lead – he’s one of two reliable matchwinners in this side. Huge show of faith in Zaniolo who will almost certainly leave Villa in the summer when his loan spell ends
Can Watkins fire Villa to glory?
The England international has, quite simply, been sensational.
From 45 appearances this term, Watkins has found the back of the net on 26 occasions – 19 of those coming in the Premier League.
He’s found the back of the net four times in the Conference League, including a header in the first leg.
And, after his deft chip which stunned Arsenal, the Villa striker will be the number one danger man for Lille this evening.
Lille vs Aston Villa: Line-ups
Unai Emery makes two changes from their win against Arsenal, as Matty Cash and Douglas Luiz in for Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers.
That’ll see Ezri Konsa shift back into his natural central position, as opposed to the full-back role he played at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, the hosts bring Yusuf Yazici into their attack, in their only change from their defeat from the first leg.
Lille XI: Chevalier, Tiago Santos, Diakite, Yoro, Ismaily, Andre, Bentaleb, Yazici, Haraldsson, Gudmundsson, David.
Subs: Mannone, Ngrel, Alexsandro, Gomes, Cabella, Ounas, Cavaleiro, Morais, Bouaddi, Toure, Ferrah.
Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne, Luiz, Tielemans, Diaby, Zaniolo, McGinn, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Carlos, Lenglet, Duran, Rogers, Kelser-Hayden, Bailey, Iroegbunam, Munroe, Kellyman.
A strong week for Unai Emery’s side
Since picking up a 2-1 win against their French opponents last Thursday, Villa continued their good form with a victory over Arsenal.
Unai Emery’s side struck twice late on – through Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins – to stun the title-chasing Gunners.
Their performance against Lille in the first leg will still be fresh in their minds as well.
The Premier League side dominated the majority of the game, barring a late strike from Bafodé Diakite.
So, while they may be entering an uncomfortable atmosphere at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the visitors will be full of confidence.
History awaits…
Tonight is the night for Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s side are looking to make history as they head into the second leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final with Lille.
Villa hold a 2-1 league from their clash a week ago, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn struck to give them advantage at half-time of the tie.
The French side will have the crowd behind them tonight, who will certainly look to put unnerve the visitors.
So strap yourselves in, because this promises to be an exciting affair.
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