Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Europa Conference League latest score and goal updates as El Kaabi strikes again

09/05/2024

LIVE – Updated at 21:47

Aston Villa have a slim chance of keeping their European hopes alive as they seek to overturn a 4-2 deficit against Olympiacos.

At Villa Park, the hosts enjoyed most of the possession and created more chances, but it was Olympiacos who came away with a crucial advantage in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

John McGinn summed up the first leg afterwards, saying: “Everything that could have gone wrong did,” as Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick including two early goals.

Douglas Luiz then missed a late penalty and a chance to reduce the deficit, as Aston Villa will travel to Greece, trying to reach a first European final since 1982.

Follow all the live action below and get the latest Olympiacos vs Aston Villa predictions and tips here.

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE

Olympiacos host Aston Villa in Europa Conference League semi-final, live on TNT Sports 1
Villa require comeback after losing first leg 4-2 at home last week
80’ GOAL! El Kaabi scores again on counter-attack to wrap up tie (2-0)
11 GOAL! Early Ayoub El Kaabi strike leaves Villa requiring three (1-0)
Emiliano Martinez returns for Villa, but Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans miss out

GOAL! Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa (6-2)

21:47 , Jamie Braidwood

85 mins: It’s a famous night for the Greek side Olympiacos, who are heading for a first European final in their history and will travel south to Athens to play Fiorentina.

olympiacos v aston villa live: europa conference league latest score and goal updates as el kaabi strikes again

(REUTERS)

GOAL! Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa (6-2)

21:43 , Jamie Braidwood

IT’S BEEN GIVEN! The length of the check told you it was tight, but El Kaabi was onside after Konsa took a step back to play him on. El Kaabi took a touch and thrashed a finish between Martinez’s legs.

FIVE goals in a one semi-fina tie for El Kaabi!

And that’s it for Villa. There will be no European title under Emery this season.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:41 , Jamie Braidwood

78 mins: NO GOAL! El Kaabi had the ball in the net for a fifth time in this tie after being sent through on goal and beating Martinez, but the striker was offside.

VAR is checking this though… and it’s taking a while.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:37 , Jamie Braidwood

75 mins: Cash is able to get round the outside but with Watkins waiting in the middle, Olympiacos are able to get bodies on the line again to clear at the near post. It’s been a heroic defensive effort from them tonight.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:36 , Jamie Braidwood

72 mins: Meanwhile, as Olympiacos are running the clock down and stopping the game at every opportunity, Roma are leading Leverkusen 2-0 and have levelled their Europa League semi-final.

It would be the first time this seaosn that Leverkusen have lost a game…

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:27 , Jamie Braidwood

64 mins: Watkins is caught offside, as the ball finally gets up to the striker. It just hasn’t fallen for Villa tonight.

(REUTERS)

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:22 , Jamie Braidwood

59 mins: After Olympiacos had the chance to wrap it up, Duran leads the counter and strikes at goal. It’s straight at Tzolakis from the angle, and Olympiacos can clear before it falls to Watkins.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:20 , Jamie Braidwood

57 mins: A first change for Villa as Jhon Durán replaces Diaby, who was diappointing tonight. Not many Villa players have really tried to grab this game, though. It’s all been too slow.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:16 , Jamie Braidwood

52 mins: Podence is booked for tripping McGinn in midfield in a cynical challenge. Olympiacos doing whatever they need to do to get the job done tonight.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:12 , Jamie Braidwood

49 mins: Chance! Bailey digs out a cross and picks out Watkins, but the ball is behind him slightly and he can only head onto the roof of the net.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:12 , Jamie Braidwood

47 mins: An early set-piece opportunity for Villa but McGinn’s cross goes all the way through. They haven’t made the most of dead-ball situations yet.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:08 , Jamie Braidwood

46 mins: Back underway in Greece.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

21:07 , Jamie Braidwood

Right, the players are out and we’re ready to get going again. No changes from Emery at the break.

HALF TIME! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:59 , Jamie Braidwood

The goal Olympiacos scored came from Villa losing the ball at the other end and they never quite recovered. So frustrating.

HALF TIME! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:58 , Jamie Braidwood

Scores tonight

Europa League: Atalanta 1-0 Marseille (2-1 agg)

Europa League: Leverkusen 0-1 Roma (2-1 agg)

Conference League: Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2 agg)

HALF TIME! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Villa have dominated but Olympiacos grabbed an early goal and have sat back on their three-goal lead ever since El Kaabi scored his fourth of the tie.

Unai Emery’s side have played well but require so much more to trouble Olympiacos. As well as three goals.

(REUTERS)

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:51 , Jamie Braidwood

45+4 mins: SAVE! Cracking hit from Bailey! It takes a slight deflection but Tzolakis makes a diving stop to his left to keep it out. That was rising.

Olympiacos clear the corner and Luiz is then booked for halting the counter.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:50 , Jamie Braidwood

45+3 mins: Olympiacos are defending the final minutes of the first half as if it’s the Champions League final and they’re only a goal up…

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:47 , Jamie Braidwood

45 mins: More frustration for Villa, as Digne’s cross evades Cash at the back post. The final ball and moment of quality just hasn’t been there so far. Watkins has been quiet, too.

There will be four minutes added on. Villa would love just one goal to build on.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:42 , Jamie Braidwood

41 mins: CHANCE! The best Villa move of the half! Diaby had the chance to play to Cash on the right, but instead came back to Watkins. He found Bailey, who squared across the face. Cash had stopped his run and can only throw himself to the turf in frustration at the back post.

Sums up Villa’s night so far.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:40 , Jamie Braidwood

39 mins: Another set-piece chance for Villa, this time as McGinn stands over a free-kick on the right. Carlos gets a touch on it, but it’s flicked out and behind for a goal-kick.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:39 , Jamie Braidwood

37 mins: SAVE! Now that is a shot on goal. Podence has space and cuts in from the left to tee up Fortounis, who strikes first time. Martinez gets behind it after diving to his right.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:37 , Jamie Braidwood

36 mins: It’s been all Villa since that El Kaabi goal, but they’ve yet to land a shot on target. It’s been all possession with little threat, and Olympiacos are happy to sit on their three-goal lead.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:35 , Jamie Braidwood

33 mins: Bailey limps back to his feet, while Douglas Luiz stands over the free-kick… there’s a lot of conversation going into this.

Here we go… over from Luiz. Tame.

(REUTERS)

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:31 , Jamie Braidwood

29 mins: Better from Villa, but a worry for Bailey. The forward is wiped out on the edge on the box, with the ball then breaking to Diaby. The keeper gets out well to deny Diaby, but Bailey is still down.

Rodinei is booked for the challenge, which was heavy.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:29 , Jamie Braidwood

27 mins: A half-chance, nothing more, for Villa as Digne picks out Bailey with a cross. But it left Bailey with a lot to do and he doesn’t manage to steer a header on target.

Watkins and Bailey then get in each other’s way on the edge of the box.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:25 , Jamie Braidwood

24 mins: Villa get some joy as they find space for Digne on the left. But his cross is blocked, and from the corner, Olympiacos throw bodies in front of shots from Watkins and Bailey.

Luiz then shoots from distance, but Tzolakis holds onto it.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:23 , Jamie Braidwood

20 mins: Villa look so narrow. Olympiacos are happy enough to sit behind the ball when Villa have it, and Emery’s side are struggling to open the Greeks up. Konsa and Cash are throwing their arms at each other, and a long spell on the edge of the box ends with Bailey slipping as he aimed a shot at goal.

Villa with 78 per cent possession so far.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:19 , Jamie Braidwood

17 mins: Villa respond with some non-threatening possession. The home fans have alsmost breathed a sigh of relief after that early goal. It was getting a little tense after Villa’s decent start.

The boos are not as loud now, as Villa face a huge uphill task.

Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:16 , Jamie Braidwood

The start Villa simply could not afford to make.

GOAL! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (5-2)

20:11 , Jamie Braidwood

10 mins: A HUGE BLOW for Villa! And it’s Ayoub El Kaabi again! The hat-trick hero from last week scores the opener, which Villa just could not afford to concede.

Villa had started well, but they looked stretched when Olympiacos come forward. A ball across the face of goal picks out the Olympiacos striker, who finishes past Martinez.

Villa now require three.

(REUTERS)

Olympiacos 0-0 Aston Villa (4-2)

20:11 , Jamie Braidwood

9 mins: Almost a lovely Villa move! McGinn turns superbly to start the Villa counter, but Cash just couldn’t find Bailey’s run, with the forward suddenly having so much space in front of him. Olympiacos got back well.

Olympiacos 0-0 Aston Villa (4-2)

20:08 , Jamie Braidwood

6 mins: The noise inside the stadium when Villa are in possession is deafening. But Emery’s side are working it nicely so far. An early goal would give them a huge lift.

Olympiacos 0-0 Aston Villa (4-2)

20:06 , Jamie Braidwood

3 mins: Villa work the ball from back to front and good play from Cash and Bailey wins a corner down the right. Bailey takes it short to Diaby but Villa can’t work a crossing opportunity.

But Villa stay patient and Konsa almost picks out Watkins! Olympiacos clear.

A good start from the visitors.

Olympiacos 0-0 Aston Villa (4-2)

20:03 , Jamie Braidwood

2 mins: An early chance for Olympiacos and Chiquinho. Villa don’t defend the long throw and it breaks to Chiquinho in the box. He snatches at the chance, and drags it wide of the near post.

KICK-OFF! Olympiacos 0-0 Aston Villa (4-2)

20:02 , Jamie Braidwood

1 mins: And we’re underway. Boos immediately greet every Villa touch as they kick off this semi-final second leg.

Olympiacos 0-0 Aston Villa

20:00 , Jamie Braidwood

Just incredible scenes in Piraeus. Good luck, Villa.

(Getty Images)

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

19:57 , Jamie Braidwood

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Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

19:56 , Jamie Braidwood

An incredible atmosphere awaits Aston Villa, and the away fans are doing their best to make themselves heard.

It’s a huge night for the hosts, but also for Unai Emery’s side as they bid to reach a first European final since 1982.

Kick-off is coming up next.

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

19:50 , Jamie Braidwood

Italian side Fiorentina await in the final after beating Brugge in the other semi-final last night.

Fiorentina were beaten by West Ham in last season’s Conference League final in Prague.

Could they face another English side wearing claret and blue in Athens?

Not long until kick-off now.

(Getty Images)

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

19:40 , Jamie Braidwood

Ollie Watkins was nominated for Premier League player of the year earlier today, but his goal in the first leg against Olympiacos is his only effort in Villa’s last five games.

The striker has had a brilliant campaign, scoring 19 times in the Premier League and 28 across all competitions. Villa need the England striker to be at his very best tonight.

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

19:30 , Jamie Braidwood

Olympiacos are attempting to become just the second Greek team to reach a major European final, and first since Panathinaikos in 1971.

It would be a special time to do it, with this season’s Europa Conference League final set to be staged in Athens.

Olympiacos coach Jose Luis Mendilibar: “Is this the biggest match of the season? I hope not. 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 Karaiskakis Stadium has been rocking (REUTERS)

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

19:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Can Aston Villa add to the all-time great European comebacks made by English sides?

It was this week five years ago that Liverpool came from 3-0 down to beat Barcelona 4-3 and Tottenham scored late goals to stun Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals.

So there’s plenty of recent inspiration as Villa try to come from 4-2 down and beat Olympiacos away from home, as Unai Emery’s side look to make history of their own.

Divick Origi was Liverpool’s hero against Barcelona (Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino led Tottenham’s comeback over Ajax (Getty Images)

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League team news

18:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Now that is a boost. Martinez was suspended last week but had missed Villa’s last two games with a thigh injury. He replaces Martin Olsen in goal.

Villa look a little light on the bench, however. There’s no Morgan Rogers, Nicolo Zaniolo or Youri Tielemans, with Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey starting alongside Ollie Watkins.

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League line-ups

18:46 , Jamie Braidwood

HUGE for Villa! Emiliano Martinez STARTS!

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Cash, McGinn, Luiz, Diaby; Bailey, Watkins

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

18:45 , Jamie Braidwood

A simple message from the Aston Villa social channels: “Believe”.

We’ll have team news in the next 20 minutes or so as we build-up to kick-off in Greece.

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

18:40 , Jamie Braidwood

Olympiacos midfielder Vicente Iborra on Unai Emery: “He is a coach that takes into consideration every detail which might happen in the match.

“He will try and have everything under control, convey his message to the players and anticipate what might happen in the match.

“I have learned many things from Mr Emery, but one thing I will never forget from him is, in order to find yourself in a final, in order to experience this great moment in your lifetime, one truly has to want that, one has to long for it.

“I believe the team that makes it to the final will be the one who wants it the most, who will strive the most.”

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

18:20 , Jamie Braidwood

Olympiacos midfielder Vicente Iborra knows exactly what lengths Aston Villa boss Unai Emery will be going to in his bid to achieve more European glory.

Villa travel to Athens on Thursday for their Europa Conference League semi-final second leg, looking to overturn last week’s 4-2 first-leg deficit.

Emery has won the Europa League four times, three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, and Iborra was in his team on every occasion.

The pair are on opposite sides this time, but Iborra, who had a two-year stint with Leicester between 2017 and 2019, will be driven by one of the messages his former boss instilled in him.

Vicente Iborra hopes to use what Unai Emery taught him to beat Villa in Athens

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

18:00 , Jamie Braidwood

Unai Emery has described tonight as the “biggest challenge” of Aston Villa’s season.

The Spaniard overcame a 2-0 first-leg defeat with Sevilla 10 years ago, in a Europa League comeback against Real Betis.

“Experiences can always help, being successful or not,” Emery said. “But we have to create and build a new way and we lost the first leg clearly.

“Tomorrow will be difficult to come back but we must play thinking to extend after the first 90 minutes, the game plan we had that didn’t work well but expect tomorrow to do better.

“It’s going to be very difficult here with the atmosphere.

“This is the challenge tomorrow, the biggest challenge we are going to face this year, playing in this semi-final.”

(Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

17:40 , Jamie Braidwood

Last time out

The problem with assuming a Europa League winner with Sevilla is bound to conquer the continent is that there is more than one of them. Unai Emery can seem the king of Europe, but a defending champion has one foot in the Europa Conference League final. Rather than Emery’s fifth European trophy, it could be Jose Luis Mendilibar’s second in as many years after, courtesy of Ayoub El Kaabi’s hat-trick, Olympiacos stormed Villa Park.

Aston Villa may retain hope of two trips to Athens this month, for the final as well as the semi-final second leg, but they came Acropolis in Birmingham, reports Richard Jolly

Unai Emery meets his match as the Spanish conqueror of European football

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

17:20 , Jamie Braidwood

Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Nicolo Zaniolo are also doubts for Aston Villa.

“We have some players close to coming back but I don’t know exactly if they can play tomorrow or not,” Unai Emery said.

Emiliano Martinez a late fitness doubt for Aston Villa

17:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Emiliano Martinez looks set to return to the Aston Villa side as they plot a dramatic European comeback against Olympiacos.

The Argentina goalkeeper has missed the last two games with a thigh injury suffered in the 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea 10 days ago.

But he has been training for the last couple of days and made the journey to Athens on Wednesday as Villa try to overcome a 4-2 first-leg deficit.

“He’s with us today,” Emery said. “I don’t want to keep information from you. He was injured last week after the match against Chelsea, 10 days.

“Tomorrow I will speak with him and the doctor to see if he is 100 per cent available.

“But if not I believe in Olsen. When we are building the team it is not only the players in the starting XI.”

(PA Wire)

Olympiacos v Aston Villa LIVE: Conference League latest updates

17:10 , Jamie Braidwood

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Is Olympiacos vs Aston Villa on TV? Kick off time, channel and how to watch Europa Conference League fixture

17:05 , Jamie Braidwood

Aston Villa have a slim chance of keeping their European hopes alive as they seek to overturn a 4-2 deficit against Olympiacos.

At Villa Park, the hosts enjoyed most of the possession and created more chances, but it was Olympiacos who came away with a crucial advantage in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

John McGinn summed up the first leg afterwards, saying: “Everything that could have gone wrong did,” as Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick including two early goals.

Douglas Luiz then missed a late penalty and a chance to reduce the deficit, as Aston Villa will travel to Greece, trying to reach a first European final since 1982.

Is Olympiacos vs Aston Villa on TV? How to watch Europa Conference League fixture