Aston Villa take on Olympiacos in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday evening, a return to the last four of a major European competition for the first time in more than four decades for the Midlands club. It comes at the culmination of a season of huge progress, with Unai Emery’s side also battling for a top-four finish in the Premier League and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Ollie Watkins has been in good form all season and has impressed, both domestically and on the continental stage, and Villa should have real confidence to go all the way.
Opponent Olympiakos is again fighting for the title in the Greek top flight this season, in fourth place but only one point away from second place. Follow the action from the first leg below and check out the Aston Villa vs Olympiacos predictions and the latest odds here.
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos – LIVE
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Kick-off at 8 p.m., live on TNT Sports
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Villa XI: Olsen, Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Rogers, Diaby, Watkins
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Olympiacos XI: Tzolakis, Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Ortega, Hezze, Iborra, Chiquinho, Podence, El Kaabi, Fortounis.
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No goal – Bailey heads in from close range, but Lenglet’s mistake means the ball is disallowed
NO GOAL! 9′ – Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos – LIVE
20:11 , Karl Matchet
Villa have the ball in the net and Bailey runs away celebrating… but the whistle is gone and the goal doesn’t stand! A nice corner routine is worked from left to right, Konsa puts it back across the six yard area and Bailey is unmarked to head home from two yards.
However, it appears to be Lenglet again, who pulls his man down through the middle and the goal is disallowed.
8′ – Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos – LIVE
20:08 , Karl Matchet
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 out to tip wide!
First moment of danger for the home team. From the resulting corner, Lenglet climbs and falls over his man and concedes a free kick, the chance is lost.
After a nervous start, it was now more controlled and confident from Villa in the final minutes.
4′ – Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiacos – LIVE
20:05 , Karl Matchet
What an opportunity. A high pass into the far post area from Podence and Iborra is completely unmarked there – his glancing header is just reached by Olsen’s fingertips to avoid the crossbar! Maybe El Kaabi got in his way a bit, but fortunately Villa was able to escape.
There was already a goal in the other semi-final: Fiorentina is leading 1-0 at home against Club Brugge.
1′ – Aston Villa 0-0 Olympiakos – LIVE
20:01 , Karl Matchet
On the way at Villa Park! Olympiacos in a gray and orange stripe pattern, Villa in their classic colours. Huge noise, huge play – here we go.
Aston Villa vs Olympiakos – LIVE
19:56 , Karl Matchet
The players are in the tunnel and are all ready to enter the Villa Park field. John McGinn led the Villa side, Robin Olsen behind him as stand-in goalkeeper. How much will they miss Emi Martinez tonight?
Aston Villa vs Olympiakos – LIVE
7:45 PM , Karl Matchet
The aforementioned news in European spots obviously affects Villa’s need to finish in the top four, but they’re not worried about that tonight and can’t do anything about it anyway – Spurs are currently in action at Chelsea and you can follow live blog here if you want:
Chelsea vs Tottenham LIVE: Latest Premier League Updates
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos – LIVE
19:36 , Karl Matchett
The Premier League has missed out on a fifth place in the Champions League in the Bundesliga for next season.
One club from each of the two countries that jointly performs best in European club competition this season will receive additional places in the new 36-team competition phase being introduced for the 2024-2025 season.
Borussia Dortmund’s semi-final first leg victory over Paris St Germain on Wednesday evening sealed second place for Germany.
Italy took the first ‘European Performance Spot’ (EPS) last month and that now means that no matter how well Aston Villa does in the Europa Conference League, England cannot secure an extra place.
Villa now needs to hold on to fourth place in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League. They are seven points ahead of Tottenham, but Spurs still 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 were to win the Champions League this season, the team finishing sixth (currently Eintracht Frankfurt) would secure the EPS.
Aston Villa vs Olympiakos – LIVE
19:26 , Karl Matchett
About 35 minutes until kick-off at Villa Park and the anticipation is certainly building…the fans are giving the players a phenomenal entrance to their first European semi-final in 42 years!
Aston Villa vs Olympiakos – LIVE
19:07 , Karl Matchett
And the line-up of the visiting team!
Former Premier League winger Daniel Podence is there, who used to play for Wolves, as is ex-Leicester midfielder Vicente Iborra.
Olympiacos XI: Tzolakis, Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Ortega, Hezze, Iborra, Chiquinho, Podence, El Kaabi, Fortounis.
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos – LIVE
19:05 , Karl Matchett
Villa line-up is in: Olsen is in net as expected and Rogers retains his place after a great run of form.
Villa XI: Olsen, Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Rogers, Diaby, Watkins
Unai Emery has full confidence in Aston Villa’s substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen
6:50 PM , Karl Matchet
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says he has full confidence in deputy goalkeeper Robin Olsen going into Thursday’s Europa League Conference semi-final first leg with Olympiacos.
The Swedish international will play as number one. Emiliano Martinez has been suspended after receiving three yellow cards in the competition so far, including two in the quarter-final second leg in Lille.
Olsen may have been playing anyway, as Martinez suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea, with the 34-year-old coming on at half-time.
Unai Emery has full confidence in Aston Villa’s substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen
Aston Villa vs Olympiakos – LIVE
6:40 PM , Karl Matchett
The other match tonight is Fiorentina versus Club Brugge – of course the winners there and in this tie will meet in the final.
This year the Europa Conference League final will be held in Athens… once again a big incentive for Villa’s opponents to go all the way.
We will also keep you informed about the Europa League semi-finals being played tonight:
Roma vs Leverkusen
Marseille vs Atalanta.
All matches start at 8pm BST.
The hidden gems and Premier League mavericks who propelled Olympiacos into Greek football history
6:30 PM , Karl Matchet
Aston Villa, the only Englishmen left in Europe, are preparing for a semi-final in the Europa Conference League but ultimately believe they will reach a higher place than the third tier of European club football.
For their opponents, Olympiacos, this has become as big as it’s gotten in recent years, and they’re doing it with some of the castaway Premier League clubs.
It is the very first participation in a European semi-final for Thrylos; their place in the final four has been threatened several times along the way.
Nathan Edwards looks at Villa’s opponents tonight:
The outsiders from the Premier League guide Olympiacos into Greek football history
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos – LIVE
6:20 PM , The independent
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Aston Villa vs Olympiacos – LIVE
18:10 , Karl Matchett
Aston Villa and Olympiacos battle it out for a place in a European final as the two clubs meet in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
Unai Emery’s side survived a penalty shootout to beat Lille in the last eight and become the first to gain home advantage in the two-legged tie.
Their Greek opponents also needed penalties to beat Fenerbahce, with Konstantinos Tzolakis saving three penalties to further build his reputation as a promising goalkeeper.
The winner of the meeting will face Fiorentina or Club Brugge in the final in Athens on May 29.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Is Aston Villa vs Olympiacos on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos – LIVE
17:42 , Karl Matchett
Hello and welcome to the Independent’s live coverage of the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final, as Aston Villa host Olympiacos of Greece.
It’s a huge opportunity to win silverware for the Premier League club, who have enjoyed a resurgence under Unai Emery and could also secure a top-four finish in England. For now, though, all their attention is on the hunt for a European trophy, meaning they need a decent first-leg result tonight.
Stay up to date with all the team news and match build-up.