Aston Villa vs Olympiacos LIVE: Europa Conference League result and reaction after El Kaabi hat-trick in semi-final first leg
A first European semi-final since 1982 for the Villa Park club under Unai Emery
Aston Villa mounted a comeback either side of half-time but ultimately were far too open defensively and suffered a 4-2 defeat in the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos.
Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby netted either side of the interval, during which there was a medical emergency involving a fan, after Ayoub El Kaabi had scored twice for the Greek outfit. However, the visiting forward then immediately netted a penalty for his hat-trick and Ezri Konsa deflected in another goal for Olympiacos’ fourth, before Douglas Luiz missed a late penalty to leave Villa a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Olympiacos remain chasing a double, fighting for the title in the Greek top flight, fourth place but only one point off second - and now they have one foot in the final in Europe, too. Follow the action from the first leg below and see the Aston Villa vs Olympiacos predictions and latest odds here.
GOAL! 16’ - Aston Villa 0-1 Olympiacos - LIVE
Olympiacos’ turn to celebrate and then be bewildered. El Kaabi runs through and buries his shot past Olsen but the offside flag is straight up.
Of course it goes to VAR...and the referee is told a different outcome - looks like Cash just played him on and the Greeks are in front!
1-0 to Olympiacos!
14’ - Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos - LIVE
Another opening for Villa goes somewhat begging, this time after Diaby winds past two challenges and puts his pass across the box, but eventually Digne’s shot is blocked at close quarters.
Douglas Luiz is next to try his luck but it’s saved on the bounce by the Olympiacos keeper. Watkins is struggling with what looks like an arm injury but he’s continuing for now.
NO GOAL! 9’ - Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos - LIVE
Villa have the ball in the net and Bailey runs away celebrating...but the whistle has gone and the goal doesn’t stand! A nice corner routine is worked left to right, Konsa puts it back across the six-yard box and Bailey is unmarked to head home from two yards.
It seems to be Lenglet again though, pulling his man down in the middle, and the goal is ruled out.
8’ - Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos - LIVE
Brilliant turn and acceleration from Rogers - beats his man, opens his body and curls in a low shot towards the far corner which Tzolakis has to stretch to tip wide!
First moment of danger for the home side. From the resulting corner Lenglet is climbing and falling all over his man and concedes a free-kick, chance gone.
After a nervy start it’s more controlled and assured now from Villa in the last few minutes.
4’ - Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos - LIVE
What a chance. A lofted pass into the far post zone from Podence and Iborra is there totally unmarked - his flicked header is just reached by Olsen’s fingertips to clear the crossbar! Perhaps El Kaabi got in his way a little if anything but Villa got a lucky escape.
In the other semi-final there’s already been a goal - Fiorentina are 1-0 up at home to Club Brugge.
1’ - Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos - LIVE
Underway at Villa Park! Olympiacos in a grey and orange patterned strip, Villa in their classic colours. Huge noise, huge game - here we go.
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos - LIVE
Players are in the tunnel and all ready to emerge onto the Villa Park pitch. John McGinn leading the Villa side out, Robin Olsen behind him as the stand-in goalkeeper. How much will they miss Emi Martinez tonight?
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos - LIVE
The aforementioned news on European spots of course impacts Villa’s need to finish in the top four, but they won’t worry about that tonight and can’t do anything about it anyway - Spurs are currently in action at Chelsea and you can follow that live blog here if you wish:
Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
It is north London vs west London, as Spurs try to keep chase with fourth-placed Aston Villa and dent Chelsea’s slim European hopes while they are at it
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos - LIVE
The Premier League has missed out on a fifth Champions League spot for next season to the Bundesliga.
One club from each of the two countries who collectively perform best in European club competition this season are granted additional places in the new-look 36-team league phase being introduced for the 2024-25 season.
Borussia Dortmund’s semi-final first leg victory over Paris St Germain on Wednesday night sealed the second spot for Germany.
Italy wrapped up the first ‘European Performance Spot’ (EPS) last month, and it now means that no matter how well Aston Villa do in the Europa Conference League, England cannot secure an extra place.
Villa must now hold on to fourth spot in the Premier League in order to qualify for the Champions League. They are seven points ahead of Tottenham, but Spurs have two games in hand on Unai Emery‘s team.
Dortmund would be the team to benefit from the second EPS as they currently occupy fifth place in the Bundesliga.
If Dortmund go on to win this season’s Champions League, the team finishing sixth - currently Eintracht Frankfurt - would secure the EPS.
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos - LIVE
Around 35 minutes to kick-off at Villa Park and the anticipation is certainly building...the fans are giving the players a phenomenal entrance for their first European semi-final in 42 years!
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