Category: Aston Villa

Olympiacos shattered Aston Villa’s dreams of reaching a first European final since 1982, as Ayoub El Kaabi’s brace secured a 2-0 win in the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final, meaning the Greek side won the tie 6-2 on aggregate.

Things could not have got off to a worse start for the visitors, who found themselves 1-0 down within 10 minutes as El Kaabi, who bagged a hat-trick in the first leg, converted from Quini’s clever cross.

That goal came against the run of play, as the Villans had been dominating possession, something they continued to do for the rest of the half but with little reward; enjoying 75% of the ball but seeing their best chance, a Leon Bailey piledriver, pushed around the post.

It was more of the same after the break, as Unai Emery was forced into a change before the hour mark, bringing Jhon Duran on in an attempt to prize open the resolute Olympiacos defence.

As they pushed forward, space was left open at the back, and El Kaabi duly exploited it when he netted his fifth goal of the tie with ten minutes remaining, extinguishing any faint hopes of a comeback.

Make no bones about it, getting to the semi-final of a European competition is a huge achievement for Aston VIlla, but they will be left with a feeling of what might have been.

The visitors, who looked leggy, conceded at the worst possible time, 10 minutes into the game, and although there was still plenty of huff and puff from there on in, they simply could not find a way back into the tie.

They have now lost three matches in a row, with both legs against Olympiacos sandwiching a Premier League defeat to Brighton, and Unai Emery will be desperate to finish the campaign on a high, as a UEFA Champions League place is still not quite wrapped up.

Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos). Seriously, who else could it be? A hat-trick in the first leg, a brace in the second, this tie has been all about one man.

El Kaabi was a problem for Villa’s defenders all night, stretching them with his pace and proving a real threat on the counter attack.

His finishing was everything that the visiting forwards were not, too – clinical. The second strike in particular was emphatic as he put the tie to bed to the delight of the home supporters.

OLYMPIACOS: Tzolakis 7; Rodinei 6, Retsos 7, Carmo 7, Quini 7; Hezze 6, Iborra 6, Chiquinho 7; Podence 7, El Kaabi 8, Fortounis 7. Subs: Masouras 6, Apostolopoulos 6

ASTON VILLA: Martinez 6; Cash 7, Carlos 6, Konsa 6, Torres 6, Digne 6; Diaby 6, McGinn 6, Luiz 6, Bailey 6; Watkins 6. Subs: Duran 6, Iroegbunam 6, Munroe n/a, Kellyman n/a, Hayden n/a

10’ GOAL! OLYMPIACOS 1-0 ASTON VILLA (Ayoub El Kaabi). That is glorious football from Olympiacos. Daniel Podence is so clever on the edge of the area as he slides a pass down the line to Quini, who had gone on the overlap. He in turn cuts back to El Kaabi at the back post, who simply has to hit the target – which he does

45+4’ SUPERB SAVE FROM TZOLAKIS. Bailey takes aim with a thunderbolt from 20 yards that is brilliantly pushed around the post, despite a little deflection off the defender

81’ GOAL! OLYMPIACOS 2-0 ASTON VILLA (Ayoub El Kaabi). El Kaabi bursts onto a ball over the top by the goalkeeper and slams past Martinez. It’s originally flagged offside, but VAR review it and he has timed his run perfectly. Goal given, tie over.

90+3’ MAGNIFICENT SAVE. An amazing looped header from way outside the box by Watkins, and he forces an excellent finger-tip stop by the goalkeeper, who pushes the ball over the bar

• Olympiacos become just the second Greek club to reach a European final, following in the footsteps of Panathinaikos, who made it to the 1971 European Cup final before losing 2-0 to Ajax
• Aston Villa have lost three matches in a row for the first time since February 2023

Ayoub El Kaabi scored a stunning hat-trick as Olympiacos took a massive step towards the UEFA Europa Conference League final with a stylish 4-2 victory over Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park.

The Morocco forward gave the Greek team a merited 2-0 lead in the first leg of a frantic semi-final with excellent finishes on 16 and 29 minutes before converting a penalty on 56 minutes after Villa had levelled at 2-2 with goals from Ollie Watkins (45+1′) and Moussa Diaby (52′) either side of half-time.

But the fightback was brief with El Kaabi adding his third after Douglas Luiz was penalised for a clear handball to concede the penalty with a deflected drive from Santiago Hezze on 67 minutes then restoring the visitors’ two-goal advantage on the night.

A dismal evening for Villa’s expectant crowd was completed in the closing moments when Luiz missed a penalty after David Carmo had felled substitute Jhon Durán.

Olympiacos are on course to reach their first major continental final and the first for a Greek club since Panathinaikos lost 2-0 to Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final at Wembley.

Only one man worthy of the award as the classy Moroccan forward led the home defence a merry dance with two brilliant finishes and a superb penalty to leave Villa Park with the match ball. Joins Eran Zahavi of Maccabi Tel Aviv as top scorer in the tournament with eight goals in seven matches, and looks certain to get the chance to increase his haul on home soil with the final being staged in Athens on Wednesday May 29.

Aston Villa: Olsen 5, Cash 5, Konsa 5, Lenglet 5, Digne 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 5, Bailey 5, Rogers 5, Diaby 5, Watkins Subs: Zaniolo 6, Duran 6, Iroegbunam 6

Olympiacos: Tzolakis 6, Rodinei 7, Restos 7, Carmo 7, Ortega 7, Iborra 7, Chiquinho 8, Hezze 7, Fortounis 8, El Kaabi 9, Podence 8 Subs: Horta 7. Richards 7

16′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 OLYMPIACOS (EL KAABI) Ayoub El Kaabi was initially given offside, but VAR confirms he was played on by a disbelieving Cash and the visiting forward produced a brilliant finish to lift the ball over Olsen. Lovely pass too from Chiquinho. Villa Park is stunned.

29′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0 OLYMPIACOS 2 (EL KAABI) And it is that man again as Ayoub El Kaabi races onto the lovely ball over the top from Daniel Podence after Villa’s possession play was broken up. Brilliant finish to slip the ball beyond Olsen as he came out. And it is a 2-0 lead for the visitors.

45′ GOAL! (WATKINS) ASTON VILLA 1-2 OLYMPIACOS Cash to Diaby, whose pass picked out Watkins perfectly to race onto the ball to slam the finish into the corner of the net. Brilliant finish, and just what the home side needed after a fairly lamentable first period. Villa coming to life right at the end of the first period.

52′ GOAL! (DIABY) ASTON VILLA 2-2 OLYMPIACOS Would you believe this? Villa have dragged this match level. Lenglet picks out Bailey who feeds Diaby on the run and he squeezes the ball home at the near post. Some finish. It is 2-2 and Villa Park erupts. What a moment. What a match.

56′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-3 OLYMPIACOS (EL KAABI) And there is the hat-trick for the Morocco forward Ayoub El Kaabi. He plants the ball to the right of Olsen as the keeper dived left. Lovely finish, and Villa Park is again stunned.

67′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-4 OLYMPIACOS (HEZZE) This is the semi-final that keeps on giving as Santiago Hezze lets fly from distance. Comes off the back of Konsa with Olsen scrambling back. Can’t keep it out. A deflected fourth for the visitors. 4-2 now.

83′ VILLA MISS THE PENALTY! Would you believe it! When it rains it pours. Douglas Luiz places the penalty to the keeper’s left, but it hits the outside of a post and flies wide. Tzolakis guessed right, but didn’t matter in the end. A huge moment.