Aston Villa and Olympiacos clash in the Europa Conference League semi-finals this Thursday. Aston Villa will be the hosts against Olympiacos at Villa Park.
Match Preview
Villa boasts one of the best home records in the Premier League this season, suffering defeats only to Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United on home turf, while winning all their home legs in the Europa Conference League.
Remarkably, they have defeated both title contenders in the Premier League this season at Villa Park, with Manchester City and Arsenal succumbing to losses.
In their recent home match, Villa secured a draw against Chelsea despite being 2-0 up, with Morgan Rogers finding the net. Before this, they defeated Bournemouth at Villa Park, with goals from Rogers, Leon Bailey, and Moussa Diaby.
Less than a month ago, Villa achieved a historic away win against Arsenal, becoming the first team to win at the Emirates this season in all competitions.
However, Villa needed penalties in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals to advance, with a 2-1 home victory followed by a 2-1 home loss against LOSC Lille.
Emi Martinez, as often seen, emerged as the penalty hero, but he is likely to miss this game due to injury.
Meanwhile, Unai Emery’s side is still fighting for fourth spot and is on track for a Champions League position next season.
As for Olympiacos, despite reaching the Europa Conference League semi-finals, it has been one of their worst seasons in recent years. They currently sit fourth in the Super League Greece, marking their lowest finish in over a decade.
While they managed to beat Lamia recently in a playoff game, they also needed penalties away from home to secure their place in the Europa Conference League.
They defeated Fenerbahce in Greece before a 1-0 loss on the road, followed by a shootout victory.
Prediction & Analysis:
In what promises to be a thrilling encounter, we predict a victory for Aston Villa, backed by their formidable home record and superior form.
Expect an entertaining display of attacking football, with both teams aiming to seize control of the tie.
With over 2.5 goals expected, fans can anticipate a high-scoring affair at Villa Park.
- Aston Villa 3-0 Olympiacos FC
