Aston Villa secured their place in the Europa League quarter-finals with a composed 2-0 win over Lille in the second leg at Villa Park. John McGinn's first-half goal settled any lingering nerves, with Jadon Sancho providing the assist in a flowing move that took just 15 seconds. Leon Bailey added a late second to seal the victory.
Manager Unai Emery, who has now reached the quarter-finals of the competition for a record eighth time, acknowledged the performance was not spectacular but praised his side's discipline. 'The matches were not so brilliant,' said Emery, who has won the Europa League four times previously. Sancho, whose loan move from Manchester United has revitalised his career, was instrumental throughout.
Emiliano Martínez played a key role, making a crucial save before launching the attack that led to McGinn's goal. The Argentine goalkeeper also entertained the crowd with his antics, much to the delight of his teammates. 'He's a mad man. I know he's a family man but he is a big kid inside,' said McGinn of Villa's showman.
Lille had their chances, with Olivier Giroud twice denied by the offside flag, but Villa's defence held firm. The visitors increased the tempo after half-time, but Villa's counter-attacking threat remained potent. Sancho hit the post and Morgan Rogers went close as Villa pushed for a second before Bailey's late strike.
Villa now face Bologna in the quarter-finals, a repeat of last season's Champions League encounter. Emery stressed the Premier League remains the priority, but acknowledged the difficulty of winning the Europa League. Villa return to league action against West Ham on Sunday.
