Aston Villa captain McGinn returns to face Lille in Europa League

Aston Villa looks to advance past Lille in the Europa League last 16 with their captain back from injury.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:48pm

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Aston Villa traveled to Lille to kick off the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday, boosted by the return of captain John McGinn from a seven-week knee injury. McGinn's teammate Morgan Rogers said it's "massive to have him back" as he "brings a lot to our team." Villa and Lille previously met in the Conference League quarterfinals two years ago, with Villa advancing on penalties. In other Europa League action, Nottingham Forest hosts Midtjylland, Bologna hosts Roma, and several other matchups are set.

Why it matters

Aston Villa is looking to make a deep run in the Europa League, and having their captain McGinn back from injury is a significant boost. The team's performance in this match against Lille could impact their chances of advancing further in the tournament.

The details

John McGinn had been out for seven weeks due to a knee injury suffered in a Premier League loss to Everton in January. His return is seen as crucial by his teammate Morgan Rogers, who said McGinn "puts a smile on people's faces" and "brings a lot to our team." Villa and Lille previously met in the Conference League quarterfinals two years ago, with Villa advancing on penalties under manager Unai Emery.

  • Aston Villa traveled to Lille on Thursday to kick off the Europa League round of 16.

The players

John McGinn

The captain of Aston Villa who has returned from a seven-week knee injury to play in this Europa League match against Lille.

Morgan Rogers

An Aston Villa teammate of John McGinn who spoke about how important it is to have the captain back from injury.

Unai Emery

The manager of Aston Villa two years ago when they faced Lille in the Conference League quarterfinals, advancing on penalties.

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What they’re saying

“It's massive to have him back. He puts a smile on people's faces, he plays with that smile, wears the badge on his sleeve and he brings a lot to our team.”

— Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa teammate

What’s next

The winner of the Aston Villa vs. Lille matchup will advance to the Europa League quarterfinals.

The takeaway

Aston Villa's return to full strength with the recovery of captain John McGinn could be a key factor in their Europa League campaign, as they look to build on their previous success against Lille in European competition.