Recap: FA Cup replays scrapped, plus European reaction and build-up

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport senior 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 and Darius Vassell
had their hopes dashed with a 3-1 aggregate defeat.

That it was the Intertoto Cup in August ahead of the 2002-03
season will not carry much weight historically but, now, the Ligue 1 side stand
in Villa’s way of making the last four in the Europa Conference League on
Thursday.

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

A slender 2-1 advantage from last week’s quarter-final first
leg keeps them 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 their wastefulness in the first leg and that
edge would have given Villa 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 in
all competitions this term, and while Villa remain favourites to win the
competition Thursday will test that theory.