ASTON VILLA have crashed out of the Europa Conference League following defeat to Olympiacos.
The hosts extended their lead to 5-2 on arrogate after Ayoub El Kaabi’s tap in early on.
With 12 minutes to go, the inform striker bagged his second to end Villa’s dreams of reaching a European final.
Olympiacos will face Fiorentina in the huge Athens finale on May 29.
- Match result: Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa (AGG 6-2)
- Olympiacos team: Tzolakis; Quini, Rodinei, Carmo, Restos; Iborra, Hezze; Fortounis, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi
- Aston Villa team: Martinez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Digne; Cash, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Bailey; Diaby; Watkins
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That’s all from Piraeus
Aston Villa have crashed out of the Europe Conference League after a 2-0 loss to Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
Villa leave Europe after a 6-2 loss on aggregate following a stunning performance from Jose Luis Mendilibar’s underdogs.
Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring after 10 minutes and completed the triumph in the 78th minute.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a great night!
Marinakis celebrates with players
Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis celebrated with players after the full-time whistle.
Marinakis has been dreaming of a moment like this since taking over the Greek giants in 2010 in a time of uncertainty after his predecessor Sokratis Kokkalis left.
Under the Greek businessman the Piraeus outfit have made it out of the group stages of a major European competition in 11 out of all their 13 attempts.
And now the Forest supremo gets to watch the team he grew up adoring challenging for a European honour.
John McGinn impresses
Aston Villa didn’t make it through to the final but their captain John McGinn stood out against Olympiacos.
A true skipper’s performance in midfield against the Greek giants.
As the heat maps shows below the midfielder was everywhere and offered pace as well as threat for the Villans.
Check it out:
What’s next?
Well, Olympiacos are heading to the Europa Conference League Final to face Fiorentina on May 29 at OPAP Arena in Athens.
Villa now have to focus on the Premier League amid a heated top-four race.
The Villans are facing Liverpool at Villa Park on Monday and then visit Crystal Palace on May 19 in the final day.
Tottenham are in fifth place with a game in hand and seven points separating them from Unai Emery’s men.
Spurs are taking on Manchester City, Burnley and Sheffield United next.
Olympiacos vs Aston Villa stats
Aston Villa dominated a whopping 74 per cent of possession but couldn’t do anything with it.
Villa registered 15 shots but only four of them were on target.
Olympiacos, on the other hand, only managed nine shots but four of them were on target.
More below:
FT: Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa are out of the Europa Conference League after another heartbreaking loss to Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
The Greek giants are set for their first European final in their near 100-year history and it will take place at Opap Arena in Nea Filadelfia – only a short drive away.
Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring after just 10 minutes after meeting a pinpoint low cross from Quini and beating Emi Martinez with a weak shot.
Aston Villa put together a rather toothless performance and it showed in the 78th minute when the defenders forgot El Kaabi who picked up a long free-kick by Kostas Tzolakis and beat Martinez from close range.
The referee claimed the striker was offside but VAR showed there was nothing and the goal stood.
History has been made in Greece.
FT: Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Peep!
That’s full-time in Piraeus!!!
90+3 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Chance!
Aston Villa almost get a late goal with Watkins receiving a stunning cross and connecting with the header.
Tzolakis was out of position but managed to get a fingertip and deny the England international.
90 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Four more minutes of added time to go.
The speakers are begging Olympiacos fans not to invade the pitch after full-time!
90 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Chance
Olympiacos ace Masouras tries a shot from the right but he is desperately off target…
88 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Substitution
Aston Villa boss Emery takes out Cash, Bailey and Digne who are replaces by youngsters Kesler Hayden, Munroe and Kellyman.
85 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa continue to play their game and dominate the possession.
Villa are showing absolute dignity even thoug – let’s face it – they are out of the Europa Conference League…
84 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
That’s 10 goals in eight matches for Olympiacos star El Kaabi who also just made history.
The striker is the first player to score over 31 goals in a single season for Olympiacos since the 2000-2001 campaign when Alekos Alexandris worked his magic.
79 Olympiacos 2-0 Aston Villa
Goal!
It’s a goal!!!!
El Kaabi ran from a correct position and there is no offside.
Shocking defending by Villa…
79 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
No goal
Olympiacos star El Kaabi picks up Tzolakis’ free-kick with Aston Villa forgeting him completely.
The striker then beats martinez one on one but is caught offside.
Or is he? There is a VAR check!
77 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Substitution
Georgios Karaiskakis comes alive as Olympiacos manager Mendilibar brings on 21-year-old Apostolopoulos to replace Quini.
An actual left-back this time.
75 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
A dangerous attack by Villa takes place as Cash breaks inside the area from the right.
The full-back tries to make the final pass to Watkins but Olympiacos’ defence clear it.
74 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Substitution
As said earlier, Iborra can’t continue and Olympiacos boss Mendilibar replaces him with Horta.
73 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Yellow card
Aston Villa sub Iroegbunam gets on the book just a few minutes after his introduction for a tacticial foul on Chiquinho who was on the counter-attack.
72 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Olympiacos ace Iborra has picked up an injury it seems and can’t continue.
The midfielder will be replaced by Horta.
70 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Tensions are flaring up between the players, which is how Quuini was booked earlier.
That fires the lively crowd even more!
69 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
The crowd is raging again after Martinez comes off his line and clashes with Masouras who was on a dangerous counter.
However, the Olympiacos star was caught offside.
67 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
The Georgios Karaiskakis crowd is incensed after El Kaabi went down during a dangerous counter-attack while under pressure from Konsa.
No foul from the referee although there did seem to be contact.
65 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Substitution
Aston Villa boss Emery brings on Iroegbunam who replaces Carlos.
Villa are slowly becoming more attacking.
63 Olympiacos 1-0 Aston Villa
Substitution
Olympiacos boss Mendiliba makes his first change as Masouras replaces Podence.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
