The second leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final between Olympiakos and Aston Villa is poised for an electrifying encounter.
Olympiakos took a strong 4-2 lead in the first leg at Villa Park and are now looking to seal their spot in the final, while Aston Villa face a challenging uphill task to overturn the deficit. Let's explore the likely lineups for both teams ahead of the decisive clash.
Olympiakos Predicted Lineup
Manager Jose Luis Mendilibar has orchestrated a formidable Olympiakos side, and they are well-prepared to maintain their two-goal cushion at Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.
Key striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who netted a hat-trick in the first leg, will aim to lead the line and continue his prolific scoring form.
Predicted Starting XI
Goalkeeper: Tzolakis
Defenders: Rodinei, Ndoj, Restos, Ortega
Midfielders: Iborra, Hezze
Attackers: Masouras, Chiquinho, Podence
Striker: El Kaabi
Stevan Jovetic remains out due to injury, while Ruben Vezo, Gelson Martins, and Nelson Abbey are ineligible to feature.
However, the return of Andreas Ndoj and Georgios Masouras from suspension strengthens Mendilibar's options.
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup
Unai Emery's Aston Villa are reeling from consecutive defeats, including the 4-2 loss to Olympiakos and a 1-0 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League.
Villa will need to dig deep to overturn the deficit, but injuries to key players complicate their efforts.
Predicted Starting XI
Goalkeeper: Martinez
Defenders: Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne
Midfielders: Cash, Luiz, McGinn, Bailey
Forward: Diaby
Striker: Watkins
Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, Emiliano Buendia, and Jacob Ramsey are all out with season-ending injuries.
Alex Moreno, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Youri Tielemans are also doubtful due to fitness concerns.
Morgan Rogers remains a significant doubt after his muscle injury against Brighton.
FAQ
Q: When and where will the second leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final between Olympiakos and Aston Villa take place? The second leg will be held at Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus on May 9, 2024, at 8:00 PM UK time.
Q: What was the score of the first leg between Olympiakos and Aston Villa? Olympiakos won the first leg 4-2 at Villa Park.
Q: What does Aston Villa need to do to reach the final? Aston Villa needs to win by at least a three-goal margin to overturn the 4-2 deficit and advance to the final.
Q: Who were the standout players in the first leg? Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick for Olympiakos, while Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby were on target for Aston Villa.
Q: What are the recent form guides for both teams?
Olympiakos Europa Conference League form: WLWWWW
Olympiakos form (all competitions): WWWDWW
Aston Villa Europa Conference League form: DDWWWL
Aston Villa form (all competitions): WWWDLL
Q: What are the implications of this match for both teams? Olympiakos aims to reach their first European final and become the second Greek team to reach a major UEFA competition final. Aston Villa is seeking to advance to their first European final since 1982.
Olympiakós 
