Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 6/1
Lille and Aston Villa will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa Conference League this week. The second leg of the quarter-final tie between the Ligue 1 club and the Premier League outfit will be held at Stade Pierre-Mauroy and is scheduled to kick off at 5:45 pm UK time on Thursday.
Lille
Lille are a big and established club in France that tend to challenge for the European places in the Ligue 1 table this season. They finished fifth in the league table last seaosn and could fare better this time around.
Paulo Fonseca’s side are fourth in the Ligue 1 table at the moment with 49 points from 28 matches. Lille are three points behind third-placed AS Monaco and four points behind Brest in second. Lille are very much in the running for the UEFA Champions League spots in the Ligue 1 table this season.
Lille are doing well in Europe as well. Les Dogues may have lost the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final tie 2-1 at Villa Park last week, but playing at home for the second leg will give them an advantage.
Team News:
Lille are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Lucas Chevalier will be in goal for the French club. Tiago Santos, Leny Yoro, Bafode Diakite and Ismaily will be the four defenders. Benjamin Andre and Nabil Bentaleb will be the two holding midfielders. Edon Zhegrova, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson and Gabriel Gudmundsson will be the three attacking midfielders. Jonathan David will lead the line for Lille.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are one of the biggest clubs in England and are an established team in the Premier League. Under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, the sleeping giant have awakened and are now a force to be reckoned with.
Villa are aiming to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season and play in the UEFA Champions League in the next campaign. The Villans are now fourth with 63 points from 33 matches, three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who are currently fifth and have played 32 games.
Villa beat Lille 2-1 at Villa Park in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final tie. They followed that up with a 2-0 victory over Premier League title-chasing Arsenal away from home at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League.
Team News:
Aston Villa are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Bournemouth. Emiliano Martinez will be in goal for the home team. Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne will be the four defenders. John McGinn and Youri Tielemans will be the two holding midfielders. Moussa Diaby, Morgan Rogers and Nicolo Zaniolo will be the three attacking midfielders. Ollie Watkins will lead the line for the Villans.
Key Factors to Consider
- Aston Villa have 41.4% of the possession against Lille in the first leg.
- Aston Villa had 4 shots on goal against Lille in the first leg.
- Lille had 7 shots on goal against Aston Villa in the first leg.
- Ollie Watkins has scored 26 goals and given 10 assists in 45 matches in all competitions for Aston Villa this season.
- Jonathan David has scored 20 goals and given 3 assists in 37 matches in all competitions for Lille this season.
Conclusion
Lille will feel that the tie is still in the balance despite losing the first leg in England. They are a good team and will fancy their chances of winning against Aston Villa. However, the job of the Villans is simple. All they need is a draw to progress, and it is very likely that Unai Emery’s side will get it.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 6/1
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
