Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg 5-2) – Europa Conference League: Live score, team news and updates as Unai Emery’s side need a MIRACLE

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

Strange as this sounds given the aggregate score, Olympiacos are playing a dangerous game. They’re giving up far too much territory and a few times Villa have been a precise last pass away from a potential equaliser. It’s a tough task but not an impossible one.

It was a nightmare start for Aston Villa.

While they looked strong in the opening 10 minutes, against the run of play, Ayoub El Kaabi inflicted more misery on them.

It’s a very well-worked goal, whenever Olympiacos go forward, they look dangerous.

Europe League semi-finals:

• Atalanta 1-0 Marseille (agg: 2-1)
• Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Roma (agg: 2-1)

Well, well, well… is Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run set to come to an end?

In Bergamo, a former Premier League star has put Atalanta ahead, Ademola Lookman.

Both ties hang in the balance.

The referee blows for half-time and Olympiacos are 45 minutes from securing a place in the final.

In truth, Aston Villa have been dominant, but their final ball has let them down on so many occasions.

It hasn’t let the hosts down though. They took one of their only chance of the half when Ayoub El Kaabi tapped in from close range.

While Villa are still going for it, the tie is over, I can’t see them pulling back three goals.

They are playing for pride now…

Just before the break, Douglas Luiz gets himself booked.

Just like the first leg, it’s not been Luiz’s best night. I think he showed his frustration there.

Konstantinos Tzolakis keeps Olympiacos in the lead!

After minutes of build-up play, Leon Bailey lets fly of a storming effort from outside the area which Tzolakis brilliantly tips over the bar.

The resulting corner comes to nothing.

Olympiacos just look so comfortable.

They are sitting deep, absorbing all the pressure from Aston Villa, and then when there is a chance to counter-attack, they take it.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

That’s plenty of time for Aston Villa to pull a goal back, can they manage it?

Matty Cash throws his whole body at the ball in an attempt to score, but he just wasn’t alert enough.

Astone Villa work the ball well and Leon Bailey fires a lovely ball across the box, but Cash just can’t get to it and turn it home.

It just isn’t happening for Villa…

The final ball just isn’t quite right for Aston Villa.

Moussa Diaby does very well to drive into the area, but his ball across the area is easily cleared.

You can’t doubt their efforts here, though.

Emi Martinez needed to be alert there.

The Argentine goalkeeper gets down sharply to save from Kostas Fortounis.

I’m pretty sure that is the first shoot they have had since the goal, it’s been all Aston Villa.

All of that waiting just for a poor free-kick.

Leon Bailey does eventually get back up and is ok to continue, but for some reason, we have to wait even longer for the set-piece.

In the end, Douglas Luiz takes it, but it’s pretty underwhelming. He clips it over the bar.

That tackle just made me pull an ‘ooo’ face…

Leon Bailey takes a hard kick to the shin as he feeds through Moussa Diaby, who forces a save from Konstantinos Tzolakis.

Bailey looks in some pain on the floor, I don’t think he is going to be able to continue.

What he has done though, is win a free-kick just outside the area.

Oh, what are you two doing there?

Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins both seemingly go for the same shot, and then neither ends up actually pulling the trigger.

If one of them did, that could have been a decent chance.

Leon Bailey nearly catches Olympiacos napping.

Aston Villa finally bamboozle the Greek sides’ defence and Bailey manages to get a decent header on a cross, but it drifts wide.

That was so much better from the Villans.

Why didn’t Ollie Watkins hit that first time?

Lucas Digne sends a stunning cross to the back post where Watkins is lurking, but instead of pulling the trigger, he takes a touch and then his shot is blocked.

Douglas Luiz then tries his luck from distance, but it dribbles wide of the post.

This must be so demoralising for Villa, they have all the ball but can’t break Olympiacos down…

Aston Villa just can’t penetrate the Olympiacos defence.

They work the ball from side to side for what feels like an age before Leon Bailey decides to have a go from distance, but he slips as he takes the shot and scuffs it.

They have to be patient to get their big chance.

Ayoub El Kaabi always seems to find space.

Olympiacos punt the ball up the pitch and suddenly they look threatening.

Daniel Podence gets the ball from Chiquinho and tries to clip the ball through to El Kaabi who has drifted off the back of Diego Carlos.

However, the ball doesn’t quite reach him. He would have been through if it had.

There are absolutely no boos anymore when Aston Villa have the ball, just chants now.

It’s probably because the Olympiacos fans know that the job is practically done, no need to boo anymore.

That goal epitomised this tie.

Aston Villa had all the ball before Ayoub El Kaabi turned home his fourth goal across the two legs.

How can Aston Villa respond? They just can’t let their heads drop.

The boos turn to cheers in no time!

After all of Aston Villa’s early dominance, Ayoub El Kaabi taps Olympiacos into the lead at the back post.

It’s a lovely move, the home side work it across to Quini who slides the ball across to El Kaabi to score.

Juts like that, the tie is now done and dusted, surely?

The boos are still going, that’s because Aston Villa have had all the possession, so far.

It’s been an encouraging display from the villains so far. Leon Bailey has just been sent on his bike on the counter-attack, but Olympiacos hold strong.

That is brilliant defending from Carmo to deny Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa have started brightly and a lovely ball is whipped into Watkins.

He looks like he is about to nod the ball home, but Carmo does well to get in front of him and head behind for a corner.

The resulting set-piece comes to nothing.

The boos inside the stadium right now are deafening.

Aston Villa have had the ball for the majority of the opening moments of this game, and the crowd has jeered them with every touch of the ball.

It’s truly incredible. Can they keep it up all game?

An early opportunity goes begging for Olympiacos.

It’s more than just a half chance as the ball comes to Chiquinho in the area, but he fires wide.

If they get the first goal, the tie will be over.

Leon Bailey is grimacing, I’m not sure why though.

After a little hobble and a skip, he is fine to continue. It’s worth keeping an eye on him over the next few minutes.

It would be a major blow if he has to come off.

It must be so fun to be in that crowd right now, they are having a blast throwing their scarves around their head.

Both teams huddle for their final team talk and Villa’s last so long the crowd begins to boo…

Anyway, it’s over now and the visitors get us underway to jeers.

Wow, the atmosphere is special.

The teams come out into a cauldron of noise as the countdown to kick-off is nearly over.

The Europa Conference League anthem is being drowned out, it’s a shame because it’s very catchy!

Peter Crouch, former Aston Villa striker, on TNT Sports:

If anybody is made for an atmosphere like this, it’s Emi Martinez.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

They’ve got the Villa formation wrong here, I’m fairly sure. I’m expecting Matty Cash to start on the right of midfield, with Ezri Konsa at right-back. Leon Bailey wide left and Moussa Diaby up with Watkins.

Wow, this photo is a stunner.

The Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis is full to the brim, and it is a sight to behold.

I’m not sure I have ever seen a stadium so full, so early…

Is anybody else as excited as I am right now?

The warm-ups are now underway, and you know what that means, kick-off is now not far away.

Aston Villa must have had some big team talk before going out though, they came out at least 10 minutes after Olympiacos…

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

Some of the locals we’ve spoken to are describing this as the biggest game in Olympiacos’ history. Throw in this crowd and that’s a lot of pressure to handle for a group of players who are not used to being so close to a European final. Vicente Iborra was part of Unai Emery’s successful Sevilla side of the mid-2010s and will be key in that respect.

Emiliano Buendia has not featured this season due to an ACL injury he picked up in pre-season.

However, although he is not ready for tonight, Buendia is now nearing a return to action and is back in team training.

It seems he has decided to travel to Greece to cheer on his teammates, they are going to need all the help they can get.

I think this post explains the atmosphere.

As I said earlier, Olympiacos have never made it to a major European final before, Tonight is huge for them.

I hear the passion just from reading the post, it’s even getting me amped up…

Tom is completely right, it’s incredibly loud at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis – it’s a truly incredible atmosphere.

To think, the players haven’t even started their warm-ups yet…

Aston Villa are going to have to somehow block the atmosphere out, but I’m not sure how, it’s deafening.

An early goal may silence them though, for Villa that is.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

The last time I was here for a competitive game, Olympiacos drew 1-1 with Wolves in an empty stadium. The date was March 12, 2020 and the Covid pandemic was sending life into lockdown. It’s a little noisier tonight.

Speaking of Ayoub El Kaabi, he is loving this competition.

Despite only being involved since the knockouts, El Kaabi is the top scorer in the Europa Conference League this season, with eight goals.

He’s scored 11 times in major European competitions in 2023-24, which is more than any other player.

In addition, Olympiacos are the top-scoring side in the knockout stages with 16 goals.

I think we should all expect goals tonight.

Just the one change for Olympiacos.

Quini comes in at left-back to replace Francisco Ortega who is out injured.

Of course, Ayoub El Kaabi leads the line after netting a hat-trick last week.

What a season Ollie Watkins is having, just earlier today he was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award.

Watkins has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season, with five coming in the Europa Conference League

If he adds another to his tally tonight, the England international will set a new club record for most goals scored in major European competitions in a single campaign.

In all honesty, though, this record probably isn’t on his mind.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

Brilliant throwback atmosphere. Even someone having a crafty cigarette in the press box. Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Nottingham Forest, is currently standing on the touchline talking to other club officials. Seems in very good spirits – it’s up to Villa to change his mood.

So, Emi Martinez returns, a huge boost for Aston Villa.

The last time he played in the Europa Conference League he was the penalty shootout hero.

If Villa even manage to get to penalties, it would be huge, and if they do, could Martinez do it again?

We have our answer, Emi Martinez is fit to start!

He is one of three changes to the side that lost the first leg 4-2 at Villa Park last week.

The other two are both in the defence as Pau Torres and Diego Carlos come in for Clement Llenglet and the injured Morgan Rogers.

It looks like Matty Cash will move into midfield.

Aston Villa have arrived for tonight’s crunch match.

It seems they are trying their own version of the ‘Abbey Road’ album cover from the Beatles.

It’s a huge night for them, I bet the nerve will be jangling, or maybe they won’t… they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

Tough as this will be, there is hope for Villa tonight. If Martinez – as seems likely – starts, they are a different team. And Olympiacos have not beaten an English team here since their win over Burnley nearly six years ago. At 4-2 up, how will the home side play it?

The answer is, we don’t know yet…

Emi Martinez has travelled to Greece with his Aston Villa teammates and faces a late fitness test which will determine if he features.

The Argentine goalkeeper has sat out the last two games with a hamstring problem, which included the first leg, although he was suspended anyway.

There is no guarantee that Martinez will return and Unai Emery could turn to Robin Olsen once again after saying on Wednesday ‘If he plays, he has our respect’.

Who will start in goal? The team news will be out soon…

Tonight could potentially be a historical one for Olympiacos.

The Greek side are in pole position to make the Europa Conference League final, and if they seal the deal tonight, it will be the first time the club has ever made a European final.

They would also be only the second Greek team to reach a major UEFA competition final, Panathinaikos are the one and only side to manage it back in 1970-71.

The stakes are high for Olympiacos.

Jose Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos boss, speaking on Wednesday:

I hope not (the biggest match of the season). I hope there is one more. We have to be focused; the situation has not changed much since the first match. You qualify over two legs, and Aston Villa will play hard to reach the final, as will we. Both teams have a chance. The players are starting to believe in themselves and when you do that things can go a lot better.

The Aston Villa fans are already making themselves heard.

It seems the fans want to make the most of their trip to Greece and have already started making their way into the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.

It’s a huge night for their team, Villa will need their backing every step of the way.

Will they witness a historic night for their club?

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, speaking on Wednesday:

We must do better. It will be difficult with the atmosphere. We need to build a new experience here with our players and our idea. This is the biggest game of the season. We will try to come back but they are favourites. We will play there trying to show something different.

(What they need to improve) Everything. We conceded four goals, lost a lot of balls. We were extra motivated and extra excited. It’s a very good moment playing in the semi-final and we lost the first leg. We will have the second opportunity.

It’s fair to say, Aston Villa had a nightmare last week.

Going into the first leg, the Villans were the favourites to win the competition, but things quickly changed as soon as play got underway.

Villa did not perform to the standard we have come accustomed to with them, while Olympiacos were ruthless. A hat-trick from Ayoub El Kaabi and Santiago Hezze’s deflected strike stunned Villa Park.

Villa did get level at one point through Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby, but they couldn’t keep the clinical Greek side out.

Their night got even worse when Douglas Luiz missed from the spot to make it 4-3. It was not his finest evening in Villa colours.

Remember, it is only halfway, but it will take a monumental display from the English side to turn things around this evening.

Villa may be down but are not out… yet.

Fiorentina have only gone and done it again, haven’t they?

The Italian side have given themselves a chance to avenge their defeat to West Ham in the Europa Conference League final last year by securing their spot in the final for a second consecutive year.

It wasn’t drama-free by any means, but Fiorentina got the job done by means of an 85th-minute penalty to seal a 4-3 aggregate win over Club Brugges.

Who will they be meeting in the final, though, Olympiacos or Aston Villa?

The Italians will be watching intently tonight. If they are not still hungover, that is.

Villa and Olympiacos are not the only teams in action tonight, there is also some Europa League semi-final action tonight, and the ties are looking tasty.

• Atalanta vs Marseille (agg: 1-1) – 8pm
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma (agg: 2-0) – 8pm

We will provide you with scoreline updates throughout the evening from these two matches.

Aston Villa certainly haven’t made it easy for themselves…

They are going to have to pull off something special if they are to reach their first European final since 1982.

The Villans’ form of late has left something to be desired, they have just one win in their last five games in all competitions.

If you compare that with Olympiacos, who have won six of their last eight matches, then the task does not look any easier.

The Greek side have the chance to reach their first-ever European final, and no Greek team has ever won a major European trophy. There is a lot on the line for them.

All the ingredients blended together mean this match has the potential to be a classic.

I for one can’t wait for it to get started.

Alexa, play ‘I Believe in Miracles’ by the Jackson Sisters.

Aston Villa will certainly have to adopt that mantra this evening if they want to defy the odds and reach the Europa Conference League final.

The Villans have a mountain to climb in Greece after their 4-2 defeat to Olympiacos at Villa Park in the first leg.

It was a result that shocked many, but in truth, Villa’s form of late suggested that it was coming. They need that to change tonight.

Can Unai Emery’s side spring a shock comeback, or will Olympiacos compile European misery on the Villans?

To find out, make sure you stay with us all evening. It’s going to be a cracker.

Right, let’s get going then, shall we?