Manager Unai Emery has named his team for Aston Villa’s Europa League round of 16 second leg match against Lille this evening.
Villa take a 1-0 advantage into this game after winning in Lille a week ago, meaning their Europa League destiny is well and truly in their own hands as they kick off at Villa Park tonight.
Emery has a special affinity with the Europa League and its most successful manager has rung the changes in his Villa team selection, including a return to the starting line-up for Jadon Sancho.
The on-loan winger was ineligible to play against parent club Manchester United on Sunday and has been immediately reinstalled to a front line that also features captain John McGinn in a first European start since his injury.
Tammy Abraham gets his moment
Right-back Matty Cash is fit enough for the bench after his own short lay-off. Lamare Bogarde continues in his place but there’s a start alongside him for Victor Lindelöf, who comes in for Ezri Konsa.
Striker Tammy Abraham starts over Ollie Watkins and has a real chance to make his mark after sealing a January switch back to Villa.
Abraham’s opportunities have been limited by Emery’s loyalty to Watkins but Villa’s toothlessness in attack necessitated a change. Abraham must now live up to the moment that’s been laid out for him by putting in the performance and grabbing the goal that takes Villa into the quarter-finals.
Villa team news in full
Starting XI: Martínez, Bogarde, Lindelöf, Torres, Maatsen, Luiz, Onana, McGinn, Rogers, Sancho, Abraham
Substitutes: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Konsa, Digne, Cash, García, Elliott, Buendía, Bailey, Watkins
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