Aston Villa's John McGinn celebrates his team's second goal (JUSTIN TALLIS)

Aston Villa inched closer to a first European trophy in more than four decades with a 2-1 Conference League win over Lille on Thursday.

Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored either side of half-time to give the Premier League highflyers a serious option on the semi-finals ahead of next week's quarter-final return leg in France.

Villa, who crushed Ajax 4-0 on aggregate in the last 16, are aiming to claim their third continental title following their victory in the European Cup in 1982 and the UEFA Super Cup the following season.

The gloss was slightly taken off their night's work when Bafode Diakite scored for the visitors with six minutes left on the clock.

Villa manager Unai Emery has a remarkable European record, having won the Europa League as coach three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

The winners of this tie will advance to face either Greek giants Olympiakos or Fenerbahce of Turkey.

This pair met earlier Thursday in Greece with Fenerbahce's tumultuous week continuing as they mounted a stirring second half fightback in a 3-2 loss.

The Turkish outfit appeared to be down and out after an hour's play, with their Greek hosts bossing the quarter-final first leg by three goals.