I don’t know, I’d not be playing Jadon Sancho wide right in a 4-4-2, ever – he doesn’t have the pace, power or desire to go on the outside, nor is he someone upon who I’d rely to get back. That said, though Uefa think Villa are playing that formation, TNT have gone for a 4-2-3-1, which is also feasible given the personnel.
As for Villa, headline news is that John McGinn is back but on the bench; otherwise there are four changes to the side spanked by Chelsea with Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Leon Bailey left out; Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Lamare Bogarde and Jadon Sancho come in.
I can’t lie, I’m disappointed we’ll not get to see Ayyoub Bouaddi from the start – I’ve heard great things – and he’s one of three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Lorient on Sunday. His spot in midfield goes to Ngal’Ayel Mukau while, at the back, Chancel Mbemba replaces Nathan Ngoy and up front, Mathias Fernande-Pardo drops out with young Olivier Giroud coming in.
Lille (4-3-3): Ozer; Santos, Mbemba, Mandi, Perroud; Mukou, Andre, Bentaleb; Perrin, Giroud, Haraldsson. Subs: Bodart, Lanssade, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Fernandez-Pardo, Miller, Edjouma, Verdonk, Correia, Bouaddi, Diaoune, Boussadia.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Sancho, Luiz, Onana, Rogers; Buendia, Watkins. Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Lindelof, Maatsen, Garcia, McGinn, Elliott, Bailey, Abraham.
