Aston Villa vs Lille – Predicted lineup and team news

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·19 March 2026

Aston Villa vs Lille – Predicted lineup and team news

Aston Villa host Lille at Villa Park tonight, aiming to protect their 1-0 aggregate lead and reach a European quarter-final for the third consecutive season.

The Villans have moved to within 90 minutes of the final eight under manager Unai Emery, who oversaw a disciplined away performance in the first leg. Villa are currently on a six-match winning streak in the Europa League and will look to their formidable home record in the competition—four wins from four this term—to secure their passage tonight.

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Aston Villa team news

Unai Emery manages a squad boosted by a key creative return but hampered by domestic ineligibility rules. Notably, Jadon Sancho is back and available after missing the weekend league match. Consequently, he is expected to slot straight into the attacking unit alongside Morgan Rogers and John McGinn.

Ollie Watkins remains the talisman up front; he is looking to score in back-to-back European games for the first time since 2024 and has a history of netting against Lille. Matty Cash faces a late fitness test, while Ross Barkley and Youri Tielemans are both unavailable for tonight’s clash.

Emiliano Martínez will start in goal behind a defensive line likely featuring Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres. In midfield, Douglas Luiz and Amadou Onana will provide the anchor, allowing the creative trio to support Watkins.

Notably, Villa have won each of their last six matches in this competition, a run they will look to extend to equal Chelsea’s English record. They must remain wary of a Lille side that has previously won at Villa Park in 2002 and will be desperate to break their long-standing “English hoodoo” tonight.