Olympiakos and Aston Villa are set to clash in the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday night.
The Greek side holds a significant 4-2 advantage from the first leg at Villa Park, but the English club will look to overturn the two-goal deficit in Piraeus.
Form and Team News
Olympiakos
Olympiakos have showcased strong form lately, navigating past Maccabi Tel Aviv and Fenerbahce to reach their first European semi-final.
Hat-trick hero Ayoub El Kaabi inspired the Greek side to victory in Birmingham, putting Olympiakos firmly on course to become the second Greek team to reach a European final after Panathinaikos.
Unavailable Players: Ruben Vezo, Gelson Martins, and Nelson Abbey are ineligible for this competition. Stevan Jovetic remains sidelined, but Andreas Ndoj and Georgios Masouras are back from suspension.
Key Players: El Kaabi, who has 30 goals this season, remains their key attacking threat, while Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Daniel Podence adds flair.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are struggling to find consistency, having lost to Olympiakos and then Brighton & Hove Albion in consecutive matches.
Unai Emery's side needs to win by a three-goal margin to overturn the aggregate score, a challenging task given their recent form.
Injury Concerns: Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings, and Emiliano Buendia are ruled out, while Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Alex Moreno, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Emiliano Martinez are doubtful.
Key Players: Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby will need to be at their best to give Villa any chance of a comeback.
Prediction
While Aston Villa have the quality to win in Greece, Olympiakos’ two-goal advantage and strong home form make them favourites to reach the final.
We expect a resilient Villa effort, but Olympiakos’ attacking prowess should see them secure passage.
Our Predicted Score: Olympiakos 1-2 Aston Villa (Olympiakos to win 5-4 on aggregate)
FAQ
Q: What is the current aggregate score between Olympiakos and Aston Villa? A: Olympiakos leads 4-2 on aggregate following their victory in the first leg at Villa Park.
Q: When and where will the second leg between Olympiakos and Aston Villa take place? A: The second leg will take place on Thursday, 9th May 2024, at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece.
Q: What result does Aston Villa need to qualify for the final? A: Aston Villa must win by at least a three-goal margin to advance to the final. A two-goal win would force extra time due to the away goal rule.
Q: What are the latest team news updates for Olympiakos? A: Olympiakos will be without Ruben Vezo, Gelson Martins, and Nelson Abbey due to ineligibility, while Stevan Jovetic is sidelined through injury. Andreas Ndoj and Georgios Masouras are available after serving suspensions.
Q: What are the injury concerns for Aston Villa? A: Aston Villa will be without Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings, and Emiliano Buendia due to injuries. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Alex Moreno, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Emiliano Martinez are doubtful.
Q: Who are the key players to watch in this match? A: For Olympiakos, Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg, will be crucial. For Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby are expected to lead the attacking charge.
Q: What are the odds for each team to win the match? A: Olympiakos Win: 43.6%, Aston Villa Win: 49.1%, Draw: 7.3%.
Q: Who will Olympiakos or Aston Villa face in the final if they progress? A: The winner of this semi-final will face either Club Brugge or Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Olympiakos 
