CHERRIES will hope their upcoming opponents Aston Villa will be exhausted at the weekend following their European exploits.

That is because Unai Emery’s Villans had to endure extra time and penalties in order to advance past French side Lille in the quarter finals of the Europa Conference League.

Heading to France with a 2-1 aggregate lead after last week’s triumph at Villa Park, Aston Villa looked to have been down and out after Lille goals from Yusuf Yazici and Benjamin Andre.

However, Matty Cash’s 87th minute strike sent the tie to an additional 30 minutes, where scores remained locked at 3-3.

As such, a penalty shootout was required.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez was the Villans’ hero and Lille’s villain, saving two penalties and taunting the home crowd.

Martinez’s antics triggered an obscure law of the game, the Argentinian booked in regulation time before receiving a second in the shootout yet staying on the field.

Villa will now go on to face Greek outfit Olympiakos in the semi-finals for a place in the final, where they would face either Belgian side Club Brugge or Italian team Fiorentina.

Cherries travel to Villa Park on Sunday, with kick-off at 3pm.

The first meeting this season between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw at Vitality Stadium in December.

Eight places and 21 points separate the two sides in the Premier League table, with Villa enjoying a strong season that has them currently fourth, in a Champions League spot.

Cherries are having a fine campaign of their own, with 43 points from 32 games placing them in 13th.