Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg 5-2) – Europa Conference League: Live score, team news and updates as Unai Emery’s side need a MIRACLE

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

I’m unsure as to why Aston Villa aren’t just going for it?

They need to score three goals but aren’t even testing the goalkeeper. They have nothing to lose.

Villa seem to be going out with a bit of a whimper…

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

Emi Martinez, you are a lucky man…

The Argentine keeper comes storming outside the area to take the ball away from Giorgos Masouras, however the ball then breaks free.

Olympiacos are about to just finish it off as Martinez lies on the floor, but the referee blows his whistle for an offside it seems.

That would have been a terrible way to concede.

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

And, I would be right.

But this time it’s from Aston Villa. Captain John McGinn’s night has come to an end, and he is replaced by Tim Iroegbunam.

Villa only have 24 minutes to save their European campaign, but let’s be honest, they won’t do it now.

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

Now it’s Olympiacos’ turn to go to make a change.

Former Wolves man, Daniel Podence, is making way for the hosts and Giorgos Masouras replaces him.

I’m sure the substitutions will start to flow now.

CHANCE! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2)

I’m pretty sure I haven’t heard Ayoub El Kaabi’s name since he opened the scoring, well, until now.

A ball is whipped into the back post and he looks set to score a second, but under pressure, he skews his header wide.

The flag goes up anyway, so it wouldn’t have counted.

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

Vicente Iborra has just celebrated a block like he has scored a goal, that’s what this means to Olympiacos.

It doesn’t look like they are penetrable, Ezri Konsa heads over, but it wasn’t really threatening.

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

Well then, it seems Jhon Duran is up for it.

He forces Konstantinos Tzolakis to beat away his strike within two minutes of him entering the action.

That’s just the injection of pace Villa ned.

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

Unai Emery has decided to make a change.

Jhon Duran has come on for Aston Villa seemingly to join Ollie Watkins up top as Moussa Diaby makes way.

Can he make an impact?

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

Olympiacos are starting to look much more comfortable in this second half.

They are stroking the ball around and Villa can’t get a whole of it anymore.

At least it means we don’t have to listen to a load of boos…

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

The Olympiacos fans are having a party now that their side finally have hold of the ball for more than a few minutes.

You just know that when the full-time whistle goes, it’s going to be chaos inside that ground.

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

It feels like the same old in this second half so far.

Aston Villa are holding onto the ball well and this time Ollie Watkins has a chance to head on target, but he can’t manage it.

Olympiakos then go up the other end with Kostas Fortounis forcing Emi Martinez into a comfortable save.

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

This referee is trying to let the game flow it seems, he has turned down appeals for a free-kick from Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash.

I must admit though, the Watkins one was a definite foul, I can’t believe he didn’t give it.

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

The crowd must still not think their team is home and hosed as they are still booing every touch from an Aston Villa player.

It’s quite incredible really, I’m surprised they have managed to keep it up for so long!

SECOND HALF: Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2)

Right, Olympiacos get us back underway!

Surely, Aston Villa can’t come back? It is going to take a miracle.

If they get one back early though, they could make the Greek side nervous still.

‘It’s a tough task but not an impossible one’

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

Strange as this sounds given the aggregate score, Olympiacos are playing a dangerous game. They’re giving up far too much territory and a few times Villa have been a precise last pass away from a potential equaliser. It’s a tough task but not an impossible one.

WATCH: El Kaabi causes Villa more pain

It was a nightmare start for Aston Villa.

While they looked strong in the opening 10 minutes, against the run of play, Ayoub El Kaabi inflicted more misery on them.

It’s a very well-worked goal, whenever Olympiacos go forward, they look dangerous.

Half-time scores elsewhere in Europe

Europe League semi-finals:

Atalanta 1-0 Marseille (agg: 2-1) Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Roma (agg: 2-1)

Well, well, well… is Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run set to come to an end?

In Bergamo, a former Premier League star has put Atalanta ahead, Ademola Lookman.

Both ties hang in the balance.

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

The referee blows for half-time and Olympiacos are 45 minutes from securing a place in the final.

In truth, Aston Villa have been dominant, but their final ball has let them down on so many occasions.

It hasn’t let the hosts down though. They took one of their only chance of the half when Ayoub El Kaabi tapped in from close range.

While Villa are still going for it, the tie is over, I can’t see them pulling back three goals.

They are playing for pride now…

YELLOW CARD: Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2) (Luiz)

Just before the break, Douglas Luiz gets himself booked.

Just like the first leg, it’s not been Luiz’s best night. I think he showed his frustration there.

GOOD SAVE! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2)

Konstantinos Tzolakis keeps Olympiacos in the lead!

After minutes of build-up play, Leon Bailey lets fly of a storming effort from outside the area which Tzolakis brilliantly tips over the bar.

The resulting corner comes to nothing.

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

Olympiacos just look so comfortable.

They are sitting deep, absorbing all the pressure from Aston Villa, and then when there is a chance to counter-attack, they take it.

So, so, solid.

FOUR added minutes

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

That’s plenty of time for Aston Villa to pull a goal back, can they manage it?

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

Matty Cash throws his whole body at the ball in an attempt to score, but he just wasn’t alert enough.

Astone Villa work the ball well and Leon Bailey fires a lovely ball across the box, but Cash just can’t get to it and turn it home.

It just isn’t happening for Villa…

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

The final ball just isn’t quite right for Aston Villa.

Moussa Diaby does very well to drive into the area, but his ball across the area is easily cleared.

You can’t doubt their efforts here, though.

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

Emi Martinez needed to be alert there.

The Argentine goalkeeper gets down sharply to save from Kostas Fortounis.

I’m pretty sure that is the first shoot they have had since the goal, it’s been all Aston Villa.

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

All of that waiting just for a poor free-kick.

Leon Bailey does eventually get back up and is ok to continue, but for some reason, we have to wait even longer for the set-piece.

In the end, Douglas Luiz takes it, but it’s pretty underwhelming. He clips it over the bar.

OUCH! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2)

That tackle just made me pull an ‘ooo’ face…

Leon Bailey takes a hard kick to the shin as he feeds through Moussa Diaby, who forces a save from Konstantinos Tzolakis.

Bailey looks in some pain on the floor, I don’t think he is going to be able to continue.

What he has done though, is win a free-kick just outside the area.

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

Oh, what are you two doing there?

Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins both seemingly go for the same shot, and then neither ends up actually pulling the trigger.

If one of them did, that could have been a decent chance.

CHANCE! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2)

Leon Bailey nearly catches Olympiacos napping.

Aston Villa finally bamboozle the Greek sides’ defence and Bailey manages to get a decent header on a cross, but it drifts wide.

That was so much better from the Villans.

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

Why didn’t Ollie Watkins hit that first time?

Lucas Digne sends a stunning cross to the back post where Watkins is lurking, but instead of pulling the trigger, he takes a touch and then his shot is blocked.

Douglas Luiz then tries his luck from distance, but it dribbles wide of the post.

This must be so demoralising for Villa, they have all the ball but can’t break Olympiacos down…

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

Aston Villa just can’t penetrate the Olympiacos defence.

They work the ball from side to side for what feels like an age before Leon Bailey decides to have a go from distance, but he slips as he takes the shot and scuffs it.

They have to be patient to get their big chance.

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

Ayoub El Kaabi always seems to find space.

Olympiacos punt the ball up the pitch and suddenly they look threatening.

Daniel Podence gets the ball from Chiquinho and tries to clip the ball through to El Kaabi who has drifted off the back of Diego Carlos.

However, the ball doesn’t quite reach him. He would have been through if it had.

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

There are absolutely no boos anymore when Aston Villa have the ball, just chants now.

It’s probably because the Olympiacos fans know that the job is practically done, no need to boo anymore.

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

That goal epitomised this tie.

Aston Villa had all the ball before Ayoub El Kaabi turned home his fourth goal across the two legs.

How can Aston Villa respond? They just can’t let their heads drop.

GOAL!!! Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa (agg: 5-2) (El Kaabi 11′)

The boos turn to cheers in no time!

After all of Aston Villa’s early dominance, Ayoub El Kaabi taps Olympiacos into the lead at the back post.

It’s a lovely move, the home side work it across to Quini who slides the ball across to El Kaabi to score.

Juts like that, the tie is now done and dusted, surely?