Overview
- Villa won 1-0 in France after Ezri Konsa’s long pass and Emiliano Buendía’s flick set up Watkins to nod over goalkeeper Berke Ozer just past the hour.
- The victory was Villa’s first European away win on French soil after six previous attempts without a win.
- Watkins ended an eight‑game scoring drought and recorded his first European goal of the season.
- Emiliano Martínez, jeered by home fans, produced important stops including a save from Matias Fernandez‑Pardo, with Olivier Giroud and Romain Perraud going close for Lille.
- Captain John McGinn returned from a knee injury as a late substitute, and the winner of the tie will face Bologna or Roma in the quarter‑finals.