Aston Villa came away from Lille with a 1–0 win thanks to Ollie Watkins’ goal in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Bologna and AS Roma played out a 1–1 draw in the all-Italian clash.
Porto won 2–1 at VfB Stuttgart, and Panathinaikos beat Real Betis thanks to a late penalty after playing the final half hour with 10 men.
Watkins netted his first European goal of the season, and Villa take a slender lead back home for next Thursday’s second leg.
The only shot on target in a cagey opening half came late on when Romain Perraud’s effort from distance was spilled by Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez, but defender Pau Torres was there to clear before Lille could take advantage.
Moments earlier, Villa had another escape when Lille striker Olivier Giroud was unable to direct his glancing header goalward from close range.
Villa took the lead six minutes into the second half when Ezri Konsa sent a long ball forward which Emiliano Buendía headed on for Watkins to send a looping header over the goalkeeper.
Amadou Onana hit a curling shot from outside the area which clipped the top of the upright as Villa pushed for a second, with Martinez making a save at the other end from Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Italian Draw
In Italy, Bologna went in front five minutes after the break when Jonathan Rowe made a mazy run into the box before laying the ball off to Federico Bernardeschi, who whipped a first-time shot in off the far post.
Donyell Malen hit the post for Roma minutes later, and it was his poked pass that set up Lorenzo Pellegrini for the 71st-minute equaliser, with the substitute firing into an empty net.
Malen had a deflected shot come off the post, while Roma’s Martin Vitík saw a header from a free kick hit the crossbar as neither side could find a winner.
Porto took the lead through Terem Moffi in the 21st minute, with Moffi playing a neat one-two with Borja Sainz before rifling his shot into the corner of the net.
Six minutes later, 18-year-old Rodrigo Mora doubled the lead, leaping to volley home Zaidu Sanusi’s cross from the left.
Stuttgart pulled one back five minutes before the break, with Deniz Undav capitalising on a deflected pass to fire a half-volleyed shot on the turn.
Angelo Stiller thought he had levelled for the hosts with 20 minutes left, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Panathinaikos went down to 10 men when Anass Zaroury picked up a second yellow card, and their goalkeeper Alban Lafont kept Betis at bay with a number of fine saves before the hosts netted the winner with two minutes left.
