Aston Villa vs Lille

The Lowdown: Aston Villa will be looking to avoid a third straight defeat when they host Lille in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
The Match: The Villans have lost their last two Premier League matches, and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways against the French side. Lille are also struggling for form, having won just two of their last five games in all competitions.
The Team News: Aston Villa will be without the injured Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause, while Leon Bailey is also a doubt. Lille will be without the suspended Jose Fonte, while Renato Sanches is also out injured.
The Key Battle: The key battle will be in midfield, where Aston Villa's John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara will be up against Lille's Benjamin Andre and Xeka.
The Verdict: Aston Villa will be confident of getting a result against Lille, but the French side will be no pushovers. The Villans have a good record at home in Europe, and they will be looking to make it three wins from three in the Europa League.
The Odds: Aston Villa are the favorites to win the match, with the odds at 1.83. Lille are the underdogs, with the odds at 3.90. A draw is priced at 3.60.
The Quotes:
"We know that Lille are a good team, but we are confident that we can get a result," said Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
"We have a good record at home in Europe, and we will be looking to continue that on Thursday," said Aston Villa captain John McGinn.
The Stats:
* Aston Villa have won their last two home games in the Europa League.
* Lille have lost their last two away games in the Europa League.
* Aston Villa have a good record against French sides, having won four of their last six meetings.
* Lille have a poor record in England, having won just one of their last four visits.
The Story: Aston Villa and Lille are two teams with contrasting fortunes at the moment. The Villans are flying high in the Premier League, while Lille are struggling in Ligue 1. However, both teams will be looking to make a statement in the Europa League on Thursday.
Aston Villa will be confident of getting a result against Lille, but the French side will be no pushovers. The Villans have a good record at home in Europe, and they will be looking to make it three wins from three in the Europa League. Lille, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their recent poor form. They have a good squad, and they will be confident of causing an upset at Villa Park.
The match is likely to be a close one, and it could go either way. Aston Villa will be the favorites, but Lille will be no pushovers. It should be a fascinating encounter.