Watkins Gives Aston Villa Edge as Europa League Last-16 First Legs Deliver Drama

Aston Villa secured a narrow but valuable 1-0 victory over Lille in France on Thursday, taking the advantage in their UEFA Europa League 2025-26 last-16 tie thanks to a second-half goal from Ollie Watkins. Meanwhile, an all-Italian clash between Bologna and AS Roma ended in a 1-1 draw, while Porto and Panathinaikos also recorded important results in the opening legs.

Villa’s win at Lille was decided by Watkins’ first European goal of the season, which could prove crucial ahead of next week’s second leg in England. The opening half offered few clear chances, with both teams cautious in possession and reluctant to overcommit in attack.

The best opportunity of the first period came late on when Lille defender Romain Perraud fired a long-range effort that Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez struggled to gather. However, defender Pau Torres reacted quickly to clear the danger before the French side could capitalise. Lille had earlier come close when veteran striker Olivier Giroud glanced a header wide from close range.

Villa broke the deadlock six minutes after the restart. Ezri Konsa launched a long ball forward, and Emiliano Buendia flicked it on for Watkins, who produced a looping header that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net.

The visitors nearly doubled their lead when Amadou Onana curled a shot from outside the box that clipped the top of the upright. Lille also threatened late on, but Martinez produced a key save to deny Matias Fernandez-Pardo and preserve Villa’s slim advantage.

In Italy, Bologna struck first shortly after halftime in their meeting with Roma. Jonathan Rowe made a weaving run into the penalty area before setting up Federico Bernardeschi, who finished with a first-time shot that bounced in off the far post.

Roma responded strongly and found their equaliser in the 71st minute. Donyell Malen’s quick pass inside the area allowed substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini to tap into an empty net after Bologna’s defence was caught out.

Both sides pushed for a winner, with Malen hitting the post and Roma defender Martin Vitik seeing a header crash against the crossbar, but neither team could break the deadlock.

Elsewhere, Porto earned a 2-1 away victory against VfB Stuttgart. Terem Moffi opened the scoring in the 21st minute after combining neatly with Borja Sainz, before teenage midfielder Rodrigo Mora doubled the lead with a volley from Zaidu Sanusi’s cross. Stuttgart pulled one back before halftime through Deniz Undav, though a later equaliser was ruled out for offside.

In Greece, Panathinaikos defeated Real Betis despite playing the final half hour with ten men. After both teams had a player sent off, the match was decided in the closing minutes when Vicente Taborda calmly converted a penalty to secure the late winner for the hosts.