Aston Villa are into the quarter-finals of the Europa League following a 2-0 win over Lille at Villa Park.
Second-half goals from John McGinn and Leon Bailey completed a 3-0 aggregate victory for Unai Emery’s side as they put their poor Premier League form behind them to set up a tie with Bologna in the last eight.
They had celebrated Emery’s 100 wins in charge of the club before kick-off with a pre-match display and started brightly but had to wait for the breakthrough goal, Amadou Onana denied with their best chance of the first half when Berke Ozer dealt with his header.
Lille seemed content to stay in the tie and wait for their opening despite being a goal down from the first leg in France – and when they did come out with more purpose after the interval they were punished. Emiliano Martinez was instrumental in McGinn’s goal.
The Argentina international saved Nabil Bentaleb’s low free-kick and then sent Jadon Sancho away down the right channel on the counter-attack. It was the winger who found McGinn, making his first appearance at Villa Park since returning from injury.
Bailey has had to wait longer than that, netting his first for Villa in over a year when fellow substitute Ollie Watkins unselfishly played him in. It was just what Villa needed, a scare-free win before an important game against West Ham back at Villa Park on Sunday.
Sancho delight at McGinn return
Aston Villa’s Jadon Sancho speaking to TNT Sports:
“He brings a lot of energy into the changing room. We’re just so happy to have him back. Happy to assist him today.
“At half-time, Emi [Martinez] said it’s one-v-one with me and Tammy [Abraham].
“As soon as I saw him get the ball, I just kept on running, and I believed in him. I just saw the ball and then as I chopped inside, I saw John McGinn, and of course I had to play it to him.”
McGinn ‘very important’, says Emery
Unai Emery speaking in the press conference about John McGinn:
“He needs minutes and today he added minutes for him and for the team. Getting fit again, I think will be very important. Today he played 70 minutes, progressively getting better.
“First half, he was again recovering confidence, playing left side, feeling confident there. Of course, if we can recover players like him, Youri Tielemans and Matty Cash, after two matches out, we can perform better.”
Emery praises Sancho quality
Asked if that was the best performance by Jadon Sancho: “Hopefully, he plays matches improving on the match he played, but of course he played well today. Sancho, he has some high-level qualities. Today, he showed it in some moments.”
Emery: I think we needed it
“I am happy how we performed in the two matches, how we tried to play serious, being organised, respecting the opponent.
“Not so brilliant those two matches, but consistent, defending well, dominating when we could dominate and when we had our momentum to be even ruthless against them.
“I think we needed it. We needed those two matches to show this competitive way.”
Analysis: Villa’s season alive
They blared out Alive and Kicking by Simple Minds at the final whistle at Villa Park and that is how it felt for Emery’s side as they regrouped with a convincing win in front of their own fans. Villa have lost their last three Premier League matches, remember.
Europe has so often been Emery’s salvation and that could prove to be the case again this season even if they are currently on course to secure Champions League qualification through their Premier League place. The fans crave silverware. So does he.
Unai Emery’s 100 Aston Villa wins were celebrated with a banner in the Holte End ahead of their game against Lille
His programme notes told the tale. “When I arrived three and a half years ago, I shared my goal and dream was to play in Europe. Now it’s no longer a dream – it’s the standard, almost an obligation … That’s the level.” He added: “It’s about enjoying games like this.”
Villa weren’t as tested as they have been of late. Lille offered little aside from Ayyoub Bouaddi’s first-half header and Olivier Giroud’s effort disallowed for offside after the break. But the winning feeling will be welcome. A reminder that their season is alive.
Quarter-finals: April 9 and 16
Semi-finals: April 30 and May 7
Final: May 20 [Besiktas Stadium, Istanbul]
