Lille vs Aston Villa predictions: Attacks set to come to the fore
- Lille’s last six matches in all competitions have seen both teams score
- Both teams have scored in five of Villa’s last seven European games
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals
A late consolation goal from Lille defender Bafode Diakite has made for a fascinating second leg of this Europa Conference League quarter-final tie with Aston Villa on Thursday.
Villa hold a slender advantage with goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn helping them to a 2-1 victory last week, although the French side may fancy their chances of overturning the deficit at their Stade Pierre Mauroy fortress.
Lille are always a force to be reckoned with on their own patch, having lost only one of their 20 home matches this season, but Villa have every right to be feeling pretty confident about matters too.
Not only do Unai Emery’s side lead after the opening leg, but the trip to France comes on the back of Sunday's shock 2-0 success at Premier League title chasers Arsenal, a result which has strengthened their position in the top four.
Team news
Andrej Ilic and Tiago Morais have been ruled out for the hosts but former Manchester United man Angel Gomes is pushing for a start having recovered from a hamstring issue.
Edon Zhegrova was forced off in the first leg and is an injury doubt, while defenders Rafael Fernandes and Samuel Umtiti are long-term absentees.
For Aston Villa, Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Jacob Ramsey are all missing.
However, Clement Lenglet and Matty Cash are expected to return to the squad after missing the first leg, while Leon Bailey is preparing for a start.
The stats
Lille have lost only one of their 20 home games this season, going unbeaten in 15 matches since suffering a 2-1 loss to Reims in September.
Both teams have scored in Lille’s last six matches, which includes four fixtures in a row at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Aston Villa have lost only one of their 11 Europa Conference League matches this season.
Both teams have scored in five of Villa’s last seven Europa Conference League assignments.
Villa forward Ollie Watkins has scored 27 goals in 49 appearances for club and country this season, netting in three consecutive matches.
Prediction
It was a pretty even first leg, with both teams showcasing their attacking talents while highlighting an occasional ill-disciplined defence, and an early strike in the return fixture could soon see it spark into life.
Lille, so dominant at home, are chasing the game and Unai Emery doesn’t have his visitors set up like a team that can defend their narrow advantage.
The Ligue 1 hosts edged the shots-on-target count 7-4 on last week’s trip to England, which should fill them with plenty of belief, although they did concede in Europa Conference League home matches against Rijeka, Slovan Bratislava and Sturm Graz earlier in the season.
With both teams having scored in each of Lille’s last six games and Villa, who deploy a high line, having managed only two clean sheets in their last six, this promises to be another entertaining encounter.
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