Aston Villa secured a slim however helpful 1-0 win over Lille within the first leg of their Europa League tie, with Ollie Watkins’ second-half header the distinction in France.
Lille began brightly in entrance of a vocal residence crowd and regarded the extra threatening facet throughout the early levels.
Villa step by step settled after the preliminary stress and commenced to threaten on the counter. Watkins raced into the penalty space halfway via the primary half and compelled a nook after a powerful run, whereas Morgan Rogers later fired a shot throughout aim that drifted harmlessly vast.
Lille’s finest alternative earlier than the interval got here from distance when Gabriel Gudmundsson struck a dipping effort that required a pointy save from Emiliano Martinez. Pau Torres reacted rapidly to clear the unfastened ball and stop any follow-up try.
Regardless of the full of life tempo, neither facet managed to check the goalkeepers constantly and the groups went into the break degree after a aggressive however tight first half.
Watkins breaks the impasse
The breakthrough arrived simply after the hour mark with a second of scientific ending from Villa. Ezri Konsa launched an extended move ahead and Emiliano Buendia did properly to problem for the aerial ball towards Chancel Mbemba.
The flick-on dropped kindly for Watkins, who nodded the ball over goalkeeper Ozer to present the guests a 1-0 lead.
The aim shifted the momentum of the match as Lille pushed ahead searching for an equaliser. Olivier Giroud pressured a routine save from Martinez with a header shortly afterwards, whereas Villa continued to look harmful when breaking.
Watkins nearly doubled the lead minutes later when he raced via on aim after being launched by Douglas Luiz. The striker pushed the ball previous the goalkeeper however collided with him whereas attempting to around the problem, with the referee waving away Villa’s penalty appeals.
Lille once more elevated their urgency within the remaining levels. Fernandez-Pardo produced a curling effort that Martinez pushed away with a diving save, and substitute Correia later poked an effort in the direction of aim throughout a crowded scramble contained in the penalty space.
There was one remaining second of controversy deep into stoppage time when Lille appealed for a penalty after Fernandez-Pardo tangled with Konsa inside the world. The referee dismissed the claims, permitting Villa to carry on.
