Progress to the quarter-finals of the competition that made Unai Emery’s reputation, the Europa League continues to offer sanctuary for Aston Villa. The second leg was completed without too much drama, via the welcome sight of John McGinn scoring a fine goal. Villa have sorely missed him, though the contributions of Emi Martínez, in making a save then launching an attack, and Jadon Sancho were crucial to clinching the tie.
Sancho, the player who neither Manchester United nor Chelsea could get to the bottom of his talent, may be the latest uncut gem that Emery has polished up. Another wildcard, Leon Bailey, scored Villa’s late second.
Eyeing the Premier League, where Villa’s protection of their top-five place will continue against West Ham on Sunday, Emery had made six changes from last weekend’s listless defeat at Old Trafford. Tammy Abraham’s selection met popular demand, with Ollie Watkins struggling for form. Like Victor Lindelöf in defence, the Roma loanee was making his first start in more than a month.
A pre-match fans display celebrated 100 wins for the Emery regime. That mark was reached in the first leg though victory in northern France was one of only two wins from Villa’s previous nine. Lille, looking to break beyond the last 16 of this competition and its precursors for the first time, featured a familiar tormentor in Olivier Giroud, the wily fox whose 10 goals against Villa were his highest total against any opposition.
