Aston Villa Report

Jacob Tanswell

Lille are man-to-man in certain situations, so #AVFC have been a lot keener to play straight into Abraham. Visitors happy to take this game deep and Villa can't really afford to be stuck in the halfway house of wanting a 2nd but protecting a lead, too and in the end doing neither

Jacob Tanswell

HT: #AVFC 0-0 Lille Emery will believe Villa largely in control - Lille's play is in front of them, his shape adapted for their back five. Villa a threat when they turn the ball over in midfield and have to attack quickly, but they can certainly step it up & be more incisive.

Jacob Tanswell

Lille's three CBs, although they jump on McGinn/Rogers and leave Abraham 1v1, look a lot more secure than they did in the first leg, where #AVFC broke into final third plenty of times, but failed to do much. Villa's quality again letting them down so far, but Lille decently setup

Jacob Tanswell

Maybe because it was missing in his absence, but McGinn seems even more animated in his directioning of team-mates. When Rogers was just down, he was shouting at Pau to pass into his back foot more, before telling Maatsen when to overlap, before moving Bogarde more central. #AVFC

Jacob Tanswell

McGinn pulling wide and deep, dragging Lille's RCB with him. He and Emery, at the same moment, shout at Abraham to make the run in the vacated space. #AVFC clearly adapted when they saw Lille's team sheet.

Jacob Tanswell

Lille in a back five tonight. McGinn is trying to coax the right CB high and is pointing for Maatsen to make runs outside of him. Lille will sit in a mid block and look to counter, knowing #AVFC don't always break this system down very well

Jacob Tanswell

McGinn starts off the left. His malleability means he can simply play wherever Emery thinks he's best suited game to game.Already receiving inside from Pau's passes, but he also gives Maatsen some protection in front. Emery wants a quick start tonight and his captain is key #AVFC

John Townley

We're underway at Villa Park... #AVFC 0-0 Lille

Jacob Tanswell

Supporters hold their cards aloft to celebrate Unai Emery’s 100 wins. Among the many paragraphs paying tribute to him, the last one reads “The Villans dare to dream again of what this club can be.” #AVFC

John Townley

Lille starting XI vs #AVFC: Ozer, Meunier, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Mbemba, Perraud, Bouaddi, Bentaleb, Mukau, Giroud, Felix Correira. Subs: Bodart, Lanssade, Fernandez-Pardo, Haraldsson, Edjouma, Tiago Santos, Mandi, Verdonk, Diaoune, Baret, Boussadia.