Watkins header propels Aston Villa past Lille in Europa League, Midtjylland stuns Forest

Ollie Watkins' second-half header gave Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Lille in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie on Thursday.

Just past the hour mark, Ezri Konsa sent a deep pass that Emi Buendía headed to Watkins in the home team's box. The England forward noticed goalkeeper Berke Özer was off his line before sending a looping header over him and into the net.

Minutes later, Watkins wasted a chance to double the advantage when he failed to score in a one-on-one with the 'keeper.

Nottingham Forest was stunned 1-0 by Danish club Midtjylland.

Brazil forward Endrick scored late to salvage a 1-1 draw for Lyon at 10-man Celta Vigo. Celta led on a first-half goal by Javi Rueda before striker Borja Iglesias received the second yellow 10 minutes into the second half.

In an all-Italian derby, Bologna and Roma drew 1-1 in the first leg.

Porto took home a 2-1 advantage from Stuttgart. Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora scored six minutes apart in the first half for Porto before Deniz Undav netted for Stuttgart before the interval.

Another Bundesliga team, Freiburg, needs to overturn a 1-0 defeat to Genk in Belgium.

In Athens, Vicente Taborda converted from the spot two minutes from time as Panathinaikos overcame Real Betis 1-0 in a game where both sides were reduced to 10.

Ferencváros beat Braga 2-0 in Budapest.

Substitute Guesung Cho headed in an 80th minute winner in Nottingham.

Forest pressed throughout but failed to find the back of the net amid heavy rain at the City Ground and will face a tough job in Denmark in the second leg with a crucial match against Fulham in the Premier League awaiting on Sunday.

Nottingham also lost to Midtjylland at home in the opening phase in October.

Villa became the first English team this week to win its first-leg game in European competitions.

None of England’s six clubs in the knockouts of the Champions League won, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool losing. Only Arsenal and Newcastle picked up draws.

In the third-tier Conference League, Crystal Palace was held 0-0 in London by AEK Larnaca.

Villa was also boosted by the return from injury of captain John McGinn, who came on as substitute in the 77th minute. He had missed seven weeks with a knee injury.

Federico Bernardeschi scored for host Bologna early in the second half to take a 1-0 lead against Roma. Substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini equalized just five minutes after he came off the bench.

The tie is still wide open, though Roma will take more experience into next week's second leg. Roma was runner-up twice, including in 2023, in this competition and coach Gian Piero Gasperini won the Europa League two years ago with Atalanta.

The Europa League format that launched last year lets teams from the same country meet at any point in the knockout phase. Previously, national derbies were possible only from the quarterfinals.

Two-time runner-up Fiorentina needed a stoppage-time penalty to beat Polish club Rakow 2-1. AEK Athens is in sight of the quarterfinals after a 4-0 win at Celje.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus heads at goal during the Europa League round of sixteen, first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and FC Midtjylland in Nottingham, England, Thursday March 12, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Midtjylland's Gue-Sung Cho celebrates scoring their first goal of the game during the Europa League round of 16, first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and FC Midtjylland in Nottingham, England, Thursday March 12, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Europa League soccer match between Bologna and Roma in Bologna, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller, top centre, scores a goal that was disallowed after a VAR review, during the round of 16, first leg soccer match of the Europa League between VfB Stuttgart and FC Porto, in Stuttgart, Germany, Thursday March 12, 2026. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Bologna's Federico Bernardeschi scores their side's first goal of the game during the Europa League soccer match between Bologna and Roma in Bologna, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins falls over Lille's goalkeeper Berke Ozer during a first leg, round of 16 Europa League soccer match between Lille and Aston Villa in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring during a first leg, round of 16 Europa League soccer match between Lille and Aston Villa in Lille, France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest in Manchester, England, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Roma's Evan Ndicka celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Roma in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP)

Chelsea's Reece James, left, tackles Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers during their English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Chelsea in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic doesn't need an excuse to pile on points, so when Chicago guard Matas Buzelis started jawing with him Thursday night, it became the fuel for his first 50-point game with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Doncic turned what he called unprovoked trash talk from Buzelis into 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the Lakers’ 142-130 victory.

“It always feels special,” Doncic said after his eighth career 50-point game. “I obviously haven’t had a 50-point game in a year, so it was very special. I mean, in the second quarter, I kind of felt it. You know, somebody started talking to me, so that woke me up.”

Doncic would not disclose what was said by Buzelis, a second-year forward, because, “I would say that I would definitely get a tech.”

Buzelis was asked if learned any lessons from his exchange with Doncic.

“Probably not to talk to him,” Buzelis said.

It wasn’t like Doncic needed any extra inspiration, either. The NBA scoring leader got off to a strong start with 12 points in the first quarter and had another 12 in the second by making 5 of 6 shots from the field once Buzelis decided to get garrulous.

Doncic ripped off 17 points in the third quarter before notching 10 points on just four field goal attempts in the fourth. He finished 17 of 31 from the field, going 9 of 14 from 3, and 8 for 9 on free throws.

Lakers coach JJ Redick described Doncic’s ability to direct the unsporting words or deeds of opponents into his own game as a “unique trait.

“It’s not just the fact that he response to a rough play or trash talking, it’s that he can channel it, and he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done,” Redick said. “That’s obviously reflective of, you know, his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Again, another game where he gets a high assist number with low turnovers.”

Buzelis picked an especially bad time to challenge Doncic, who had averaged 39.5 points per game during the Lakers’ previous three wins with LeBron James out because of right hip contusion and arthritis in his left foot. That included Doncic scoring 44 points against Indiana on Friday.

Doncic has 13 40-point games in 82 regular-season appearances for Los Angeles, moving into ninth in franchise history. Eleven of those have come this season.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) and Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)