Yahoo News Aston Villa starting XI vs Lille predicted as Bailey returns and Emery handed injury boosts
Aston Villa take a one-goal advantage with them to France as Lille host Unai Emery’s side for their Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg on Thursday night (5:45pm BST kick-off).
Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored goals either side of half-time in last week’s first leg, before Diakite halved Lille’s deficit in the 83rd minute by heading in Remy Cabella’s corner. The Ligue 1 side didn’t play a domestic match last weekend as the LFP essentially gave them, Marseille and PSG the weekend off to concentrate on their European duties, so they have a better chance of progressing in their respective European competitions to boost the country’s UEFA coefficient.
Villa, meanwhile, caused a shock in north London as they beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Leon Bailey came off the bench to score the opening goal with only six minutes of regulation time remaining, before Watkins bagged his 19th league goal of the campaign in the 87th minute.
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After beating title challengers Arsenal and moving three points clear inside the top four, there is a real feel good factor about Villa, and it’s crucial that momentum continues to build. Lille played some excellent football at Villa Park last week and have an excellent record at the Maury Stadium , so Emery’s squad will be under no illusion of what a difficult task faces them on Thursday night despite having a lead.
The games are coming thick and fast at the moment. In fact, Villa will play their second leg against Lille and then two more Premier League games before top four rivals Tottenham next kick a ball. Progressing in Europe and taking at least four points from games against Bournemouth and Chelsea is a must for Villa in the next 10 days.
Emi Martinez will play all of Villa’s remaining games this season, unless he is otherwise unavailable. He could play behind the same defence which has started the last three games against Brentford, Lille and Arsenal despite Matty Cash and Clement Lenglet returning from injury. Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne were all exceptional in the win over the Gunners last time out.
Douglas Luiz will come back into the midfield after he began a two-match league suspension last weekend. He is expected to operate alongside Youri Tielemans.
Leon Bailey should come into the XI and play off the right and Morgan Rogers from the left as John McGinn plays in an advanced midfield role to support striker Watkins.
McGinn, Luiz, Diaby, Tielemans and Cash are all one booking away from a suspension, meaning they would miss a potential Europa Conference League semi-final first leg. Yellow cards are wiped at the start of the semi-finals.
Villa XI predicted: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Pau, Digne, Luiz, Tielemans, Bailey, Rogers, McGinn, Watkins.
