
UEFA Europa League
8:00 p.mMarch 19, 2026
Round of 16

Aston Villa*2 – 0
VAT:(0-0)
Added:(3-0)

LilleVilla Park
Referee: Davide Massa, Italy


Aston Villa


Lille
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
1.80
Expected Goals (xG)
0.34
Passing by
427 (85%)
Accurate passes
403 (89%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
23
G
Emiliano Martinez
7.0
22
d
Ian Maatsen
6.2
14
d
Pau Torres
7.0
3
d
Victor Lindelöf
7.2
26
d
Lamare Bogarde
7.2
m
Douglas Luiz
24
m
Amadou Onana
7.3
m
John McGinn (C)
54′
27
m
Morgan Rogers
6.9
m
Jadon Sancho
18
F
Tammy Abraham
6.9
1
G
Berke Ozer
7.2
4
d
Alexsandro Ribeiro
7.5
18
d
Chancel Mbemba
6.2
3
d
Nathan Ngoy
6.2
15
m
Romain Perraud
6.6
32
m
Ayyoub Bouaddi
6.5
6
m
Nabil Bentaleb
7.2
12
m
Tomás Meunier
6.9
F
Félix Correia
9
F
Olivier Giroud (C)
6.3
17
F
Ngal’ayel Mukau
6.5

UEFA Europa League Ranking – UEFA Europa League
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Europa League (Play Off: Round of 16)
- Promotion – Europa League (Play Off: 1/16 final)
Aston Villa defeated Lille 2-0 at Villa Park, with second-half goals from John McGinn and Leon Bailey giving them a vital lead in their UEFA Europa League tie.
Aston Villa secured a crucial 2-0 win over Lille at Villa Park on 19 March 2026, setting a strong tone for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League. The home team’s clinical performance in the second half proved decisive and delighted the Villa faithful.
Both teams entered this European encounter in impressive form, having each won their previous two matches in the competition. The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric, with fans anticipating a hard-fought battle between two well-drilled sides.
The first half unfolded as a tactical affair, with Aston Villa having a slight advantage in possession at 52%. Clear scoring chances were very slim as both defenses held firm.
Lille F. Correia received the first yellow card of the match in the 25th minute for a tactical foul, which indicated the intensity of the duel in midfield. Goalkeepers Emiliano MartÃnez and Berke Özer were called into action, making crucial saves to keep the score level.
As the teams headed into halftime, the stalemate underscored the need for increased offensive momentum. Unai Emery probably emphasized directness and precision to unlock Lille’s resilient backline.
Aston Villa broke the deadlock in the 54th minute and set Villa Park alight. John McGinn showed great composure, guiding the ball home after an incisive pass from Jadon Sancho, putting the home side 1-0 up.
After the goal, Villa made a second-half substitution in the 56th minute, bringing on Tammy Abraham. Lille responded with a triple substitution in the 67th minute, bringing on N. Mukau, A. Bouaddi and others in an attempt to change the momentum.
Midfielder Douglas Luiz was shown a yellow card for Aston Villa in the 72nd minute. Despite the substitutions, Villa remained focused, looking to consolidate their lead and push for the second goal.
Villa continued to press, making more changes to freshen up their attacking options. Scorer John McGinn was substituted in the 74th minute, and Jadon Sancho in the 84th minute.
Just a minute after coming on, substitute Leon Bailey made an immediate impact, doubling Aston Villa’s lead in the 85th minute. Ollie Watkins, who showed sharp play, provided a perfectly weighted assist for Bailey’s clinical finish.
Statistical analysis showed Aston Villa’s attacking threat, recording an expected goals (xG) of 1.8 compared to Lille’s 0.34. Both teams managed 8 shots in total, but Villa’s quality in front of goal was superior.
This impressive 2-0 win gives Aston Villa a significant lead heading into the second leg against Lille. The home goal puts them in a strong position to progress further into the UEFA Europa League.

