Image source, Getty Images

Villa are without injured left-back Alex Moreno tonight, but are able to call on Douglas Luiz - who missed the win over Arsenal through suspension.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

In the last official semi-final Aston Villa played in Europe it was Lille who prevailed.

Dion Dublin, Peter Crouch, Gareth Barry, Darius Vassell et al had their hopes dashed with a 3-1 aggregate defeat.

The Intertoto Cup in the August before the start of the 2002-03 season will not carry much weight historically but, now, the Ligue 1 side stand in the way of Villa reaching the last four of the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Joking aside, it would be a first major European semi-final since 1982 – when they won the European Cup.

A slender 2-1 advantage from last week's first leg keeps Villa in the ascendancy - but only just.

Lille dangerman Jonathan David said the hosts need to be more astute if they are to progress.

He was disappointed with his side's wastefulness at Villa Park and that edge would have given the Premier League team an even sterner test against a side who have won 10 of their 14 Ligue 1 home games.

Lille have not lost at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy since September, their only home defeat this term, and while Villa remain favourites to win the competition, tonight will test that theory.

I mean, I get that it's all mind games, but surely Aston Villa fans are loving an opposition manager in a European quarter-final saying their side has very few weaknesses.

It wasn't that long ago when Villa were getting beat in the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Lille manager Paulo Fonseca says his side have "no room for mistakes".

"We will have to score quickly but also not concede goals," Fonseca said. "It's a dangerous game against a very strong team.

"We'll have to play a balanced game, even if we'll also have to take risks. There will be no room for mistakes. We'll have to defend well before attacking.

"It's difficult to find weaknesses in a team like Aston Villa. We have to understand how they play, and the game against Arsenal was a great example."

Lille had 48,000 in their ground for a recent 2-1 win over Lens and it's expected to be packed again tonight.

We're still 20 minutes or so from kick-off and it's already filling up quickly.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Rex Features

Quite a few of us in the office reckon Liverpool and West Ham will win their matches tonight, but no one believes either side will advance on aggregate.

Wonder if we'll be proved wrong by 22:00 BST....

This week's Football News Show is the perfect build-up to tonight's ties.

Skip ahead to all things Aston Villa, West Ham and Liverpool!

Julien Laurens
French football expert on TNT Sports

Very exciting. It is the first time Lille have reached this stage in a European competition.

Fans are already signing, the atmosphere will be great. This stadium is going to be amazing and the team needs that support as it's a young team.

Lille will need that twelfth man.

Diego Carlos is only the bench but I'm fairly confident we'll see him tonight, especially if Villa want to shut up shop in the closing stages.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos says he is "stronger" mentally and physically after overcoming serious injury in 2022.

Carlos was voted player of the match in Villa's 2-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday, his 32nd appearance of the season.

Shortly after signing for Villa, Carlos ruptured his Achilles tendon, an injury which saw him only able to play three games in his debut campaign.

But after starring on Sunday, he said: “It’s my second time as Player of the Match and I’m very happy because I work hard every day.

“I’m very happy with this moment because I had a big problem last season. Now, I have a good sensation with my body and I’m feeling confident.

“I came back stronger in my head and in my body. I’m very happy with everything.”

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports: "Fantastic atmosphere [in Lille], I think it will be full [the stadium].

"With focus we want to repeat the opening [leg] and they [Lille] showed at Villa Park they have good players and organisation - it will be difficult.

"But, we will enjoy the moment and we will be focused - demanding in our war today."

On playing an away leg: "It is always difficult. They are playing with [home] supporters and they will be very motivated, of course we are trying to increase our level and play in the same structure as at home.

"It is going to be a very good test."

On taking momentum from the Arsenal victory: "It's different and another competition. We have to try to be who are we are and play with personality and impose our position on the pitch.

"We have to share the responsibility."

Anon: Err, I think you’ll find that Lewes FC are still in Europe in the Fenix Trophy….

Apologies Anon, how could I forget...

Lots of Aston Villa banners and flags around Lille today with around 2,600 visiting fans expected to be in the stadium by kick-off.

It's a big night for Lille who are fourth in Ligue 1 and still have a chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League group stage.

The stage is set in northern France.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery is calling on his Aston Villa side to show their maximum capability to reach their first major European semi-final since 1982.

Ollie Watkins and John McGinn gave Villa a 2-0 lead in the first leg but Bafode Diakite gave Paulo Fonseca's side hope.

Emery said: "Now is the moment to show our capacity."

Villa are heading to France full of confidence after producing a masterclass on Sunday when they beat Premier League title challengers Arsenal 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.

Emery added: "When we are in Europe, we have to be focused and very demanding if we want to get something here.

"Playing against a team like Lille, they are very motivated and they are a very organised team.

"The result at Villa Park was not enough for us or for them. We have to enjoy an amazing day, an amazing match being very demanding."

By the end of tonight Aston Villa could be the only English team left in European competition this season.

Who saw that coming, hey?

So is this just a blip in the Premier League's claim as the best league in the world. Or are there some serious questions the English game needs to answer.

Let us know your thoughts!

Three changes for Aston Villa to the side that started the first leg in Birmingham last week. Matty Cash makes his first club start since 14 March after injury while there are also starts for Nicolo Zaniolo and Moussa Diaby.

Diego Carlos, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers are among the substitutes.

The games are coming thick and fast with Villa chasing a top-four Premier League finish and in action on Sunday at home to Bournemouth.

Aston Villa starting XI: Martinez, Konsa, Cash, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Douglas Luiz, Diaby, McGinn, Zaniolo, Watkins.

Subs: Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Gauci, Duran, Olsen, Rogers, Kesler-Hayden, Bailey, Iroegbunam, Munroe, Kellyman.

Lille's starting XI includes former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb.

Their bench features Vito Mannone, the former Arsenal keeper, ex-Manchester United and England Under-21 midfielder Angel Gomes, former Newcastle player Remy Cabella and ex-Wolves forward Ivan Cavaleiro.

Lille starting XI: Chevalier, Santos, Diakite, Yoro, Ismaily, Andre, Bentaleb, Yazici, Arnar Haraldsson, Gudmundsson, David.

Subs: Mannone, Alexsandro Victor, Gomes, Cabella, Ounas, Ivan Cavaleiro, Tiago Morais, Bouaddi, Toure, Ferrah, Negrel.

Image source, Getty Images

Villa's huge European night came 42 years ago when they beat Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final.

Fast forward to today and the focus is fully on the Europa Conference League. They walloped Ajax in the last round and raced into a 2-0 lead against Lille in their quarter-final first leg. But the French side rallied and Villa enter tonight with a narrow, 2-1 aggregate lead.

"...we know what we were/might be again in a few months time..."

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After stunning Arsenal in the league on Sunday, Aston Villa are back to it in the Europa Conference League. And, a place in the semi-finals is on the cards.

Image source, Getty Images