Martin O'Neill's men had looked like claiming a hard-fought win in the first-leg in Denmark after Martin Laursen headed them ahead with 14 minutes remaining on a rainswept night.

Yet Villa's relief was shortlived as their impressive hosts refused to lie down and earned just reward for an enterprising display through Anders Moller Christensen.

It was Odense's second equaliser of the match after new signing Steve Sidwell had put through his own net on his competitive debut to cancel out John Carew's early effort.

It finished 2-2 and the return leg will be played next Saturday.