UEFA Europa League 2025-26: Watkins goal earns Aston Villa victory at Lille in round of 16 first leg; Bologna, Roma draw

Aston Villa left Lille with a 1-0 win thanks to Ollie Watkins’ goal in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League 2025/26 last-16 tie on Thursday, while Bologna and AS Roma played out a 1-1 draw in the all-Italian match.

Porto won 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart and Panathinaikos beat Real Betis thanks to a late penalty after playing the last half hour with 10 men.

Watkins scored his first European goal of the season and Villa take a slim lead at home for next Thursday’s second leg.

The only shot on target in a cagey opening half came late, thanks to Romain Perraud’s effort from distance, which Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez could not hold, but defender Pau Torres was there to clear before Lille could take advantage.

Moments earlier, Villa managed to escape again when Lille striker Olivier Giroud was unable to direct his header on target from close range.

Villa took the lead six minutes into the second half when Ezri Konsa sent a long ball forward, which Emiliano Buendia headed towards Watkins, sending a running header over the keeper.

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Amadou Onana hit a curling shot from outside the area which hit the top of the post as Villa pushed forward for a second, while Martinez made a save from Matias Fernandez-Pardo at the other end.

ITALIAN TREAT

In Italy, Bologna took the lead five minutes after half-time when Jonathan Rowe made a dazzling run into the penalty area before laying the ball to Federico Bernardeschi, who fired home for the first time via the far post mnb5.

Donyell Malen hit the post for Roma minutes later, and it was his pinned pass that set up Lorenzo ‌Pellegrini for the 71st-minute equalizer, with the substitute firing into an empty net.

Malen had a deflected shot hit the post and Roma’s Martin Viti saw a header from a free kick hit the crossbar as neither side could find a winner.

Porto took the lead in the 21st minute through Terem Moffi. Moffi played a neat one-two with Borja Sainz before firing his shot into the corner of the net.

Six minutes later, 18-year-old Rodrigo Mora doubled the lead, volleying home Zaidu Sanusi’s cross from the left.

Stuttgart pulled one back five minutes before half-time, Deniz Undav benefited from a deflected pass with a half-volley on the turn.

Angelo Stiller thought he had equalized for the hosts with twenty minutes to go, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Panathinaikos were reduced to ten men, with Anass Zaroury picking up a second yellow card, and keeper Alban Lafont kept Betis at bay with some fine saves before the hosts scored the winner with two minutes to go.

Diego Llorente was sent off after a second yellow card for a foul on Karol Swiderski, and Vicente Taborda made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Published on March 13, 2026