Aston Villa 2-4 Olympiakos: Europa Conference League semi-final blow for Unai Emery’s side
Aston Villa captain John McGinn faced up to a chaotic Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg loss to Olympiakos, and said: “Everything that could have gone wrong, did.”
Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick for the visitors, netting twice early on.
Ollie Watkins reduced the deficit for Unai Emery’s side and Moussa Diaby equalised moments after the interval.
Olympiakos roared back in front with an El Kaabi penalty and a deflected strike from Santiago Hezze.
Douglas Luiz missed a late penalty, meaning Villa must overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg in Piraeus on 9 May to reach their first European final since 1982.
“There were mistakes all round tonight and we’ll take responsibility,” McGinn told TNT Sports.
“We have a mountain to climb but we know we’re capable. The manager was still positive in there. There’s still a long way to go.”
El Kaabi began the goal flurry with a clinical finish. It was initially disallowed for an offside, but that was overturned after a check by the video assistant referee (VAR).
The Morocco striker added a classy second when he latched on to Daniel Podence’s clever pass over the top and slipped the ball under Robin Olsen.
Watkins pulled a goal back for Villa in added time in the first half with an angled finish from just outside the six-yard box.
Diaby then levelled as Konstantinos Tzolakis was beaten at his near post.
Villa seemed to have the momentum at that point but were sucker-punched by their visitors.
Douglas Luiz handled a Panagiotis Retsos header and El Kaabi coolly sent Olsen the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick to take his tally to eight goals in the competition.
There was more than an element of fortune to Olympiakos’ fourth as Hezze’s speculative effort flicked off the back of Ezri Konsa to wrong-foot Olsen.
Douglas Luiz had a late opportunity to atone for his error after David Carmo felled Jhon Duran but, to the incredulity of the home fans, he failed to hit the target.
Villa caught cold by bold Greeks
The presence of Villa fan Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and a colourful mosaic in the Holte End heightened a sense of expectation at a raucous Villa Park before kick-off.
Emery talked up the importance of a top-four Premier League finish in the build-up to this match, but for the fans in claret and blue it was dreams of a first major trophy since 1996 that largely occupied their thoughts.
If those dreams are to become a reality then Villa will need to be much improved in the second leg after they were caught cold by the intensity of an Olympiakos side motivated by their own sense of destiny.
The Greek Super League side have never reached a major European final and played with a fearless attacking verve as they pressed and harassed Villa into defensive lapses.
Certainly Villa’s ability to play out from the back with composure was hampered by the absence of suspended goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and ball-playing defender Pau Torres.
Emery cut an animated figure in the technical area as he tetchily issued instructions to his side, with both Olsen and Clement Lenglet facing his ire.
Villa may need a tactical masterclass from their Spanish manager if they are to have a chance of overhauling Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side in Greece.
“We didn’t play like we are playing and we need to keep being consistent,” Emery told TNT Sports.
“They deserved to win and they are a good team. It’s not about luck. We didn’t play well. We have to play better.”
In the other semi-final, M’Bala Nzola scored in added time as Fiorentina snatched a 3-2 home victory over a Club Bruges side who played nearly a third of the game with 10 men after Raphael Onyedika was sent off.
Riccardo Sottil had earlier put Fiorentina ahead before Hans Vanaken equalised from the penalty spot.
Andrea Belotti restored Fiorentina’s advantage eight minutes before half-time, but Igor Thiago got the 10-man Belgian side back on level terms soon after the hour, before Nzola came up with the late winner.
Player of the match
Daniel PodenceDaniel Podence
Aston Villa
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
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Squad number2Player nameCash
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Squad number27Player nameRogers
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Squad number19Player nameDiaby
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Squad number31Player nameBailey
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Squad number4Player nameKonsa
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
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Squad number47Player nameIroegbunam
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Squad number24Player nameDurán
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Squad number22Player nameZaniolo
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Squad number17Player nameLenglet
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Squad number25Player nameOlsen
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Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Olympiakos
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Squad number56Player nameDaniel Podence
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Squad number9Player nameEl Kaabi
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Squad number5Player nameAndré Horta
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Squad number7Player nameFortounis
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Squad number6Player nameChiquinho
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Squad number88Player nameTzolakis
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Squad number8Player nameIborra
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Squad number23Player nameRodinei
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Squad number45Player nameRetsos
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Squad number16Player nameDavid Carmo
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Squad number3Player nameOrtega
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Squad number27Player nameRichards
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Squad number32Player nameHezze
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Olsen
- 2Cash
- 4Konsa
- 17Lenglet
- 12Digne
- 7McGinn
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 31BaileySubstituted forZanioloat 85′minutes
- 19DiabyBooked at 83minsSubstituted forIroegbunamat 85′minutes
- 27RogersSubstituted forDuránat 74′minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 3Diego Carlos
- 14P Torres
- 18Gauci
- 22Zaniolo
- 24Durán
- 29Kesler-Hayden
- 47Iroegbunam
- 64Wright
- 69Munroe
- 71Kellyman
- 72Young
Olympiakos
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 88Tzolakis
- 23de Almeida
- 45Retsos
- 16Mota Veiga Teixeira do Carmo
- 3OrtegaSubstituted forRichardsat 45′minutes
- 8Iborra de la Fuente
- 32Hezze
- 7FortounisBooked at 83mins
- 6Lima Silva Machado
- 56PodenceSubstituted forLuz Hortaat 70′minutes
- 9El Kaabi
Substitutes
- 1Paschalakis
- 5Luz Horta
- 11El Arabi
- 15Alexandropoulos
- 18Marín Ruiz
- 20Carvalho
- 22Jovetic
- 27Richards
- 70Prekates
- 99Papadoudis
Live Text
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Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Olympiakos 4.
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Second Half ends, Aston Villa 2, Olympiakos 4.
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Attempt missed. Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Rodinei.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Panagiotis Retsos (Olympiakos).
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Attempt missed. Jhon Durán (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Attempt saved. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Douglas Luiz.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Tim Iroegbunam replaces Moussa Diaby.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Nicolò Zaniolo replaces Leon Bailey.
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Penalty missed! Still Aston Villa 2, Olympiakos 4. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) hits the right post with a right footed shot.
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Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) is shown the yellow card.
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Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
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Penalty Aston Villa. Jhon Durán draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by David Carmo (Olympiakos) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Attempt saved. Chiquinho (Olympiakos) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Corner, Olympiakos. Conceded by Clément Lenglet.
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Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Douglas Luiz with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Omar Richards (Olympiakos).
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Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.