Aston Villa 2-1 Lille: Hosts claim slender first-leg lead in quarter-final tie as Ollie Watkins and John McGinn strike in each half… but Bafode Diakite lifts French side with late strike

Aston Villa will head to northern France next week knowing that if they avoid defeat, a first major European semi-final since 1982 awaits.

Goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn in either half gave Villa a two-goal advantage before Lille pulled one back through Bafodo Diakite and Unai Emery’s side had Emiliano Martinez to thank on a night where the French side were repeatedly denied by the Argentinian keeper.

If anyone had doubts over the magnitude of this clash for Villa, then Emery’s programme notes were enough to show what it meant.

Ahead of his 1000th game in charge, the Spaniard wrote how ‘200 per cent’ was the minimum required, stressing that it was Villa’s first major European quarter-final since 1998.

‘Let’s dream together. As it was 42 years ago,’ he added, of course referring back to Villa’s European Cup success in 1982. 

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the season

Watkins scored in the 13th minute, left unmarked in the box to head in from a McGinn corner.

John McGinn doubled the lead with a fine strike into the bottom corner in the 56th minute

Emery knows more than most about continental success with four Europa League titles to his name and named an unchanged eleven from the team that drew with Brentford.

Much had been made about Paulo Fonseca’s Lille side as France’s most entertaining but by the time they settled into game, Villa were ahead.

It required a brilliant tackle from Lille skipper Benjamin Andre to stop Watkins from initially giving Villa the lead in the 11th minute.

From the resulting corner, Watkins forced Lucas Chevalier into a save and a minute later from another corner, the Lille keeper could do nothing as Watkins headed in, unmarked, from McGinn’s delivery for his 25th goal of the season.

The goal even had the royal seal of approval as the cameras panned to a jubilant Prince William and Prince George in the stands.

Watkins nearly had another soon after but was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Diakite after Douglas Luiz’s through ball but the visitors were unfortunate not to go into the break level after missing a flurry of chances.

Former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder Nabil Bentaleb played in Edon Zhegrova but the winger shot straight at Martinez and minutes later, the Argentine came to the rescue again to deny Diakite who was clean through on goal.

On the stroke of half time, Villa gave the ball away in midfield but Lille striker Jonathan David failed to beat Martinez.

Villa began the second half brighter as Bailey’s effort was saved by Chevalier after a smart backheel by Watkins and Bailey turned provider minutes later, albeit with a hint of fortune.

Lille pulled a goal back as Bafode Diakite flicked in a header from Angel Gomes’ cross

Lille defender Gabriel Gudmundsson had an effort ruled out for offside in the second-half

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced several saves to deny the French side

Again, it was from a corner as Luiz played it short to Bailey, who slipped as he attempted to cross but the ball came to the edge of the box, where McGinn was there to guide the ball perfectly into the bottom corner.

Lille thought they had pulled one back when Gabriel Gudmundsson volleyed in but VAR ruled it out for offside, much to the delight of the Villa fans, who will no doubt be dreaming about Athens in May just like Emery told them to.

There was still time for two more Martinez saves before he was finally beaten by Diakite’s header from a Lille corner. It was the least the visitors deserved for their efforts and left the tie finely poised.