Follow Europa League & Conference League last-16 first legs
Aston Villa under way against Lille in Europa League, before Nottm Forest host Midtjylland at 20:00 GMT
Crystal Palace face AEK Larnaca in Conference League at 20:00 GMT
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
Douglas Luiz is really important in the base of midfield for Aston Villa. He has a really good passing range.
They need crisp passing to go right through the heart of the Lille midfield. Just a bit more composure and quality.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers strikes at goal and is convinced it has taken a deflection but the official disagrees and awards goal kick, not corner.
Use 'Get Involved' to have your say
I get Jon's point (18:07), but what Emery is trying to do is coach his structure into a new starting XI. Takes time, but the payoff is massive. Can't rely on two to three key players all season.
Ed, Kent
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa think they should have had a penalty as Lamare Bogarde goes down and glares at Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez, but nothing given.
It is the correct decision as the ball underneath his foot, not an opposing leg, was the reason why Bogarde fell over.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
A nervous moment for Villa as Ngal'Ayel Mukau shoots just wide from near the penalty spot, but it wouldn't have counted anyway as the flag is then raised for offside before Mukau got the ball.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
Lille are yet to really penetrate Aston Villa and are happy to sit back. They need to make the most of home advantage.
They are defending well but Villa are starting to take control of the game.
Use 'Get Involved' to have your say
Image source, Getty ImagesEmery has done a brilliant job at Villa. No need to question him now - every team goes through a rough patch. He will sort it out given time.
A, Birmingham
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesMuch better from Villa. Amadou Onana slides a low ball through and Ollie Watkins would have had a shooting chance but for some excellent last-ditch sliding defending from the hosts.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins tries to go around the outside of Aissa Mendi, but the defender does well to stop Watkins playing a pass to Morgan Rogers inside the penalty area. Encouraging for Villa.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesNeither side with a shot on target so far. Villa did not even manage a single touch of the ball in the Lille penalty area in the opening 20 minutes.
A slow burner.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins, under pressure from Chancel Mbemba, tries to spin away from his marker, but the ball bounces off his body and out for a goal kick.
Shortly afterwards, Douglas Luiz tries an attempt from 18 yards out, only to see the strike charged down.
Use 'Get Involved' to have your say
Image source, Getty ImagesI don't get those who think it's time up for Emery but I find it baffling that he keeps trying the same thing again and again when it isn't working. Villa are limited but there are options and variations possible.
Jon, West Midlands
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Better from Aston Villa as Jadon Sancho slides it to Morgan Rogers, but the England man, on the right side of the penalty area, puts too much on to the ball into the middle and it goes harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa need to get the ball wide to Sancho and isolate the full-backs who are set on getting forward.
Villa like to have two players deep in midfield but they need to be retaining the ball better than they are doing right now.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Image source, Getty ImagesGaetan Perrin, close to the Lille byline, manages to get a low cross in from a tight angle, but it is too close to Emiliano Martinez, who can safely gather with Olivier Giroud lurking.
Use 'Get Involved' to have your say
It feels really like the season ended for Villa when Kamara got injured. The squad has little depth and recent performances are very poor. I do hope Villa prove me wrong tonight! A lot of players with a lot to prove in the team.
Kevin, Brum
In the last 16 of a European competition and the top four of the Premier League, pushing for Champions League qualification, doesn't sound like the end of a season to me.
Lille 0-0 Aston villa
We have a short break for those players observing Ramadan to get some food and drink on board.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Jadon Sancho could be a vital outlet for Villa tonight and he picks up the ball on the right wing but he is quickly greeted by three red shirts and is crowded out before he can do any damage.
Lille 0-0 Aston Villa
Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on TNT Sports
There is a real opportunity here for Ollie Watkins to get a goal on the board after a period of not scoring. Aston Villa are just setting their stall out at the moment.
Tiago Santos is playing high as a right-back for Lille and Romain Perraud is also pushing high too.
Use 'Get Involved' to have your say
Buendía is not a striker. It should be Watkins up front with Abraham and Buendía as a midfield player.
Richard
Tammy Abraham must be wondering what he has to do to get a start. Beats me Tammy! Hope you get to prove a point.
Ian, Dunn
Manager:Bruno Génésio
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Manager:Unai Emery
Formation:4 - 4 - 2
Manager:Bruno Génésio
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Manager:Unai Emery
Formation:4 - 4 - 2
UEFA Europa League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
This is the fifth European meeting between Lille and Aston Villa – they met twice in the Intertoto Cup in 2002, with Villa drawing away and winning 2-0 at Villa Park, then faced in the 2023-24 Conference League quarter-final (both 2-1 home wins).
Aston Villa have never won an away European match (inc. qualifiers) in France in six attempts (D2 L4), losing the last three in a row.
Lille have won the first leg in just one of their last seven major European knockout ties (D2 L4) and were beaten 1-0 by Crvena Zvezda in the first leg of their play-off tie last month.
Aston Villa have won their last five UEFA Europa League matches, their longest ever winning run in major European competition. The last English team to win six games in a row in the Europa League was Arsenal between October and December 2020.
Lille’s Olivier Giroud has 19 UEFA Europa League goals and could be the 11th player to score 20 (since 2009-10) – with all 19 scored since Giroud turned 30; the only two players to score 20+ goals after the age of 30 are Aritz Aduriz (26) and Edin Dzeko (20). Giroud has also scored in each of his last eight matches against Aston Villa, scoring 10 goals between August 2013 and December 2020 for Arsenal and Chelsea.
