sport news Unai Emery needs a miracle if he's to overturn Aston Villa's shock 4-2 first ... trends now
Two more league wins will bring Champions League football to these parts next season but unless Aston Villa can improve their European performances quickly, their journey in that competition will be brief and bitter.
Villa’s hopes of a first major continental trophy since 1982 were left hanging by a thread as Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick to help Olympiacos to a chaotic victory. Not even the presence of the Prince of Wales in the directors’ box could inspire his team to victory, nor the furious rollicking Unai Emery gave his players midway through the first half.
El Kaabi’s double put Olympiacos in control and though Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby scored either side of half-time to bring Villa level, El Kaabi sealed a hat-trick from the spot and Santiago Hezze’s deflected effort made it four.
Douglas Luiz then missed a penalty leaving Villa with a huge task to overturn this in Athens next week and reach the Europa Conference League Final.
Villa were sloppy everywhere and their display showed once more how hard they find the going when Emi Martinez is absent. The Argentine is not only the world’s best goalkeeper but also the leader of this team, and Robin Olsen simply cannot match him for either quality.
Olympiacos stunned Aston Villa as they recorded an emphatic 4-2 victory in Thursday's Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg clash
Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored his first of three goals with a well-taken finish after beating the offside trap
El Kaabi doubled the visitors' lead after sneaking a shot past Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen
As impressive as Emery’s men have been domestically, they have ridden their luck in Europe and will need to produce a display for the ages in Greece.
The stage was set for Villa to take another step towards history. A spectacular display in the Holte End showed the words ‘Up The Villa!’ in claret and blue. Even the racket from the away end was drowned out as the home fans settled in to see their side take another step towards European glory.
Warning signs were there as early as the second minute when Robin Olsen – in for the suspended Emi Martinez – made a good save from Vicente Iborra’s header. Though the Spaniard was flagged offside, the decision would probably have been overturned had he scored.
Villa surged forward and Morgan Rogers
