Aston Villa narrowly defeated Lille with a 0-1 away win in the first leg of their 2025/26 UEFA Europa League Round of 16s tie at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Thursday.

In the first half, Bogarde was fouled in the box, but the referee waved play on. In the second half, Watkins scored a header, Onana's long-range shot hit the crossbar, and Watkins appeared to be fouled in the box, but was denied a penalty due to diving. At a crucial moment, Fernandez-Pardo was brought down in the box by Konsa, but the referee again waved play on. Ultimately, Aston Villa secured a 0-1 away victory against Lille.

First Half

In the 20th minute, Jadon Sancho made a straight pass down the right flank. Morgan Rogers quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps, before volleying with his right foot from the right side of the box, but his shot flew high and went out of the pitch.

15 minutes later, Rogers passes back from the right wing. Lamare Bogarde quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, was brought down by Gaetan Perrin, but the referee resolutely refused to award Villa a penalty!

In the 43rd minute, Tiago Santos crossed from the byline at the right wing. Olivier Giroud rose high and attempted with a header in the box from a very close distance in the box, however his effort somehow went wide of the left side of the post! Lille missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock!

Shortly after, Benjamin André passes horizontally from near the midfield center circle. Romain Perraud quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps, before taking a left-footed long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Emiliano Martínez.

At halftime, Lille and Aston Villa temporarily enter the break with a 0-0 goalless stalemate.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 61st minute, Nabil Bentaleb crossed into the box from the left wing. Giroud rose high and attempted with a header in the box, however his effort was saved by Martínez.

1 minute later, Ezri Konsa made a long pass from his own back half. Emiliano Buendía headed the ball across, before Ollie Watkins, having beaten the offside trap, quickly followed up and headed the ball into the net, giving Aston Villa a 1-0 lead! The England international striker finally ended his seven-game goal drought!

In the 65th minute, Douglas Luiz passes horizontally from the center of the box. Upon receiving the pass,Rogers volleyed with his left foot from the right side of box. His shot was initially blocked and cleared off not far away by Bentaleb. Amadou Onana quickly followed up and upon picking up the loose ball, took a right-footed follow-up shot from the edge of the penalty area, but his shot unfortunately struck the top right corner of the crossbar and bounced off! Aston Villa missed a golden opportunity to quickly extend their lead!

3 minutes later, Luiz made a long pass from his back own half. After beating the offside trap, Watkins quickly followed up, got the ball, and dribbled into the center of the box, before appeared to have been brought down by the outrushing Belker Özer, but the referee refused to award a penalty! Subsequent television replays clearly showed that Watkins had dived, therefore the referee's decision not to award a penalty was correct!

In the 75th minute, Aïssa Mandi passes horizontally from the left wing. Matias Fernandez-Pardo quickly followed up, got the ball, dribbled, cuts inside and took a few steps before taking a right-footed long shot from the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Martínez.

7 minutes later, Rogers crossed into the box from the right wing. Emiliano Buendía quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his right foot from the center of the box, but his shot went just slightly wide of the bottom right corner of the post.

In the 5th minute of stoppage time, Ayyoub Bouaddi made a straight pass ugh ball down the left flank, and Fernandez-Pardo quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, was brought down by Konsa in the box. Despite this obvious foul, the referee refused to award Lille a penalty! This became the biggest point of controversy in the match!

When the final whistle is blown, Aston Villa narrowly defeated Lille with a 0-1 away win.

Image source: Internet / AFP