Aston Villa were left stunned at Villa Park as Olympiacos twice took two-goal leads in their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg.
The 4-2 win for the visitors will have sent shockwaves around Europe, with Unai Emery‘s Villa side most people’s tournament favourites ahead of the tie.
Emery has pedigree in Europe – having won three consecutive Europa League trophies with Sevilla before adding a fourth with Villarreal – but will have to use every bit of his experience as he takes his side to Greece in a week’s time.
Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi was in inspired form as he put the Greek side into a shock two goal lead, before goals from Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby either side of half-time restored order by making it 2-2
Olympiacos were awarded a penalty that El Kaabi cooly dispatched on 56 minutes before Santiago Hezze added a fourth via a deflection off the back of Ezri Konsa soon after.
Villa had a huge opportunity to make it 4-3 with substitute Jhon Duran hauled down for a penalty but Douglas Luiz put the spot-kick wide.
Villa’s players now have their work cut out if they are to repeat the heroics of over four decades ago and win a European trophy for the midlands club.
Aston Villa player ratings v Olympiacos
Here is how we rated each Villa player in the dramatic defeat.
Robin Olsen – 6
Made a good early save from a Vicente Iborra as he deputised for Emi Martinez which may have been marginally offside.
Did nothing wrong in terms of shot-stopping but obvious drop-off on the ball when compared to Martinez.
Matty Cash – 5
Played El Kaabi onside for the first Olympiacos goal. Was up against Wolves loanee Daniel Podence who was the Greek side’s biggest threat and struggled to handle him defensively.
It was his surge forward that led to Villa’s first goal against the run of play but was not his best night.
Ezri Konsa – 6
Was unfortunate as Santiago Hezze’s goal deflected off his back to make it 4-2 to Olympiacos. He and Lenglet both struggled with the movement of El Kaabi.
Clement Leglet – 6.5
Preferred over Pau Torres for this one and did not do too much wrong despite conceding four.
Played a lovely sweeping diagonal ball to Leon Bailey in the build-up to Villa’s second.
Lucas Digne – 6
Like Cash for the first goal, Lucas Digne was the guilty party playing El Kaabi onside for the second.
Was not as much of a feature going forward as Villa fans have become accustomed to as Olympiacos made it very difficult when the Villans had possession.
Douglas Luiz – 3
Usually the man entrusted with dictating the tempo and controlling the midfield from his deep-lying role but was constantly harried by Olympiacos players which made it difficult.
Had no business having his arm so high up as he gave away an incredibly cheap penalty just as Villa had levelled the game at 2-2.
His misery was compounded as he put a penalty wide on 83 minutes in a strike that summed up his night.
John McGinn – 6
Olympiacos targeted the Villa centre-midfielders with their press and McGinn really struggled to get to grips in the fist 45.
Took more responsibility in the second-half but ultimately Olympiacos won the midfield battle.
Leon Bailey – 8
Lively from the start and unlucky to have an early goal chalked off for a foul in the build-up. The one player constantly available in the first-half and looking to stretch Olympiacos.
He felt he should have had a penalty after driving into the box just before half-time but dusted himself off to provide the assist for Diaby’s goal.
Villa’s biggest threat on the night.
Moussa Diaby – 8
Quiet for the bulk of the first-half but played the beautifully weighted pass that set up Watkins’s goal.
Scored the second with a cheeky near-post strike on 52 minutes which should have seen Villa kick on. Picked up numerous good positions and played four key passes according to Sofascore as he tried to make things happen.
Morgan Rogers – 6
Lively at the start and end of the first 45, flashing a fierce strike at the Olympiacos goal early on.
Found the second-half equally as difficult and replaced by Duran on 74 minutes.
Ollie Watkins – 7
Struggled to get into the game first-half and managed just nine touches. Gave the ball away cheaply in the build-up to Olympiacos’ second where usually he would make it stick.
With the form he is in, though, he just needs one chance and he cooly dispatched of Diaby’s through-ball to half the deficit before half-time.
Outshone by El Kaabi, who was the best striker on the night with an impressive hat-trick.
Substitutes:
Jhon Duran – 7
Nicolo Zaniolo – N/A.
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