Europa Conference League

ASTON VILLA’S great European adventure was left in ruins here in Athens as England’s last remaining hope finally bowed out.The Premier League may be the greatest show on earth but there will be no English representation at any of Uefa’s three showpiece finals.Aston Villa’s European adventure is over after defeat in GreeceCredit: RexOlympiacos are celebrating after reaching their first European finalCredit: PAAyoub El Kaabi was the two-goal hero after last week’s hat-trickCredit: ReutersAston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was unable to stop his side bowing outCredit: PAOnce again Moroccan hitman Ayoub El Kaabi did the damage with a deadly double, seven days after his hat-trick at Villa Park left Villa with a Mount Olympus sized mountain to scale.Even four-times Europa League winner Unai Emery couldn’t prevent this Greek tragedy from playing out.Despite enjoying the vast bulk of possession this was one match too many for the Spaniard’s weary squad.While Olympiakos were given the weekend off, Villa lost at Brighton and looked leggy here.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd so, just a stone’s throw from the ancient ruins of the Acropolis and the Parthenon Villa’s Euro dream turned to rubble.On Monday night it’s Liverpool when they will hope to summon up the energy to seal fourth place and Champions’ League football.But they will need to get off their knees to do so after this gut-wrenching disappointment.All credit to Olympiakos, who have waited 53 years to finally end their fierce city rivals Panathinaikos’ boast of being the only Greek club to reach a major European final.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFerenc Puskas’s Pana lost 2-0 to Johan Cruyff’s Ajax at Wembley in 1970-71 and Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men were determined to eclipse that – especially with this month’s final taking place in Athens.Olympiakos’ Under-19’s showed the seniors the way by beating AC to win the UEFA Youth League – the first Greek club side to win any UEFA tournament.Biggest football kit fails after controversy over new England shirtAll the stars now appear to be aligning for the hosts who will face Fiorentina in the final.Villa had hoped the Greeks two-goal first-leg lead might make them over-cautious – or better still, complacent.Sadly, that wasn’t the case as Olympiakos, roared on by their frenzied fans, seized control of the tie by grabbing the early goal they craved.The sight of Emi Martinez taking his usual place between the sticks was a welcome one for the 1,600 travelling army of Villa fans, as was the return of Pau Torres and Diego Carlos in defence.But there was an early scare for the visitors when the ball glanced off Diego Carlos’s head from an Olympiacos throw and landed at Chiquinho who slashed his shot into the side netting.Villa responded by pressing Olympiakos back and they forced a hat-trick of corners which all fizzled out.Then came the moment Emery must have dreaded as Olympiakos picked his side off on the counter-attack – just as they had at Villa Park.Once again Villa’s high backline imploded as one long ball out of defence picked out Daniel Podence on the left.His initial cross was blocked by John McGinn but the ball flew back to the former Wolves man who fed overlapping left back Quini.He drilled in a low cross and Pau Torres failed to cut out the threat.Unfortunately the ball landed at the feet of the last man Villa wanted it to.Deadly hitman Ayoub El Kaabi had stunned Villa with a hat-trick in Birmingham and there was no way he was going to miss the open goal gaping in front of him.He calmly slotted home his 31st goal of the season to break Villa’s hearts again.Emery’s team now needed three goals just to force extra-time!Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey both had shots blocked by a red and white wall of defenders.Douglas Luiz’s long ranger lacked the power to trouble Kostas Tzolakis in the Greek goal and Bailey headed over at full stretch.Unai Emery’s side must now concentrate on securing a top four finishCredit: PAVilla were having plenty of possession – 75 per cent in a dominant first period – but Olympiakos were digging in, encouraged by their fanatical fans and ultras.Rodinei crashed into Bailey at the edge of the box but Douglas Luiz curled his free kick well over.Martinez held Fortouni’s 25-yarder before a moment which summed up Villa’s first 45 minutes.Watkins fed Bailey who played in a tempting low delivery but Matty Cash stumbled in front of a gaping goal.When your luck’s out, it really is out!Bailey then crashed in a ferocious effort which Tzolakis pushed over and a frustrating half ended with a booking for Douglas Luiz for hauling down Fortounis.The locals have a tradition of smashing crockery and Emery must have been tempted to hurl a few tea cups at the break.His side certainly continued to fight.Watkins headed over before Emery sent on striker Jhon Duran for Diaby.The Colombian kid fired in a shot which Tzolakis spilled before Konsa headed over from a Bailey corner.However Villa’s night of misery was complete when El Kaabi raced clear onto a long clearance from Tzolakis to beat Martinez.At first glance the Moroccan looked well offside but after a lengthy VAR check the Stadio Karaiskakis erupted as Konsa was judged to have marginally played him onside and the goal was awarded.In truth Villa simply couldn’t turn silver into gold at the birthplace of the Olympics.READ MORE SUN STORIESOllie Watkins did his best to salvage some pride with a stoppage time header from 18 yards which appeared to be dipping in.But Tzolakis wouldn’t even give Villa that crumb of consolation and leaped to turn the striker’s attempt over. 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OMAR RICHARDS has told his cock-a-hoop Olympiakos teammates to beware the British bulldog spirit against Aston Villa tonight.Or it could cost them their place in their first ever European final.Omar Richards is hoping to lead Olympiakos to European glory at the expense of Aston VillaCredit: GettyRichards, one of two Englishmen in the Greek camp, warned: “Villa have that British mentality – even though they are two goals behind, they will NEVER accept it’s over.”The Greeks celebrated their 4-2 first-leg win with their fans at full-time at Villa Park as if they had already booked their place in the final.But Lewisham-born Richards, currently on loan from Nottingham Forest, has told his teammates they would be crazy to write Villa off – even with a two goal advantage.He said: “We’ve only played the first-half of the tie.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I know they’re going to come out even stronger in the return-leg and I’ve warned our lads we have to be ready for any backlash.”Making sure we left Villa Park with a two-goal lead was very important – it will help us a lot in Piraeus – but Villa will believe they can still turn it around.”Olympiakos had never reached a European semi-final until this season – now they have their sights set on their first ever final in their hometown city of Athens.Richards said: “We made history last week, taking the first step. But there’s still a big job to be done in the second-leg.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”Everyone is obviously excited and it’s a great achievement to win the first part.”We played with no fear at Villa Park. We came out with a good plan, we stuck to it and we had early success.Prince William cheers for Aston Villa “We grew in confidence, made it difficult for them and, when we had our chances we took them.”Our striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick and showed what a good player he is. He doesn’t stop running, he takes his chances and he’s a beast!”We can’t just say Villa underestimated us, we played very well. When they came back and scored twice to make it 2-2 we stayed composed and that will be important again at our place.”There were a lot of attacks coming my way and I just tried to stay in the game – don’t do anything silly.“We stuck to the plan and it worked for us. We bounced back with two goals and we fixed everything.”For left-back Richards, a place in a European final, would cap a remarkable comeback following 18 months of injury hell.Richards played for Reading and Bayern Munich before joining Nottingham ForestCredit: AFPOmar Richards’ career statsThose numbers in full:

Reading, 2017-2021: 104 games, 3 goals

Bayern Munich, 2021-2023: 17 games, 0 goals

Nottingham Forest, 2022-203: 0 games, 0 goals

Olympiakos (loan), 2023-2024: 13 games, 0 goals

Trophies: Bundesliga, German Super Cup (Bayern Munich)

The 26-year-old Londoner was hoping to make an impact in the Premier League when Nottingham Forest paid Bayern Munich £8.5million to land him in the summer of 2022.But a fractured shin, suffered during Forest’s pre-season training camp in Valencia, was followed by a hernia operation which ruled him out for the entire season.Last August Forest loaned him to their sister-club Olympiakos and Richards finally made his comeback in December.He said: “It’s crazy to think I’m 90 minutes away from a European final because I’ve been through a lot in the last couple of years.”As for my Forest future I don’t know about that. It’s something we’ll sit down and sort out at the end of the season.”But it’s not about me this week, it’s about the team, and we’re looking forward to playing in front of our incredible fans in the Karaiskakis Stadium.READ MORE SUN STORIES”There were 2,500 of them at Villa Park and when we arrived at the ground they were already in their corner, long before any Villa fans arrived.”We could see their dedication – they are like a 12th man on the pitch for us and every opponent who comes here discovers this.” More

A EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE clash was stopped mid-match due to FLARES.Club Brugge are taking on Italian outfit Fiorentina to determine who reaches the final tonight.Club Brugge’s clash with Fiorentina was stopped tonight by the refCredit: TNT SportsFlares and pyros from the fans caused smoke to fill the Jan Breydel StadiumCredit: RexThe official was forced to stop play seconds after half timeCredit: TNT SportsMaxim De Cuyper scored the opener for Club Brugge on the nightCredit: AFPThe Serie A side took a 3-2 lead to the home of their Belgian rivals.Fiorentina twice led last week in Florence thanks to Riccardo Sottil and Andrea Belotti but twice Club Brugge pegged them back.Hans Vanaken converted a penalty before top scorer Igor Thiago got on the scoresheet.But Fiorentina grabbed a third in additional time through M’Bala Nzola to take an advantage to Brugge.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLBut that lead was short-lived as Maxim de Cuyper fired Brugge ahead on the 20 minute mark of the second leg.The clash remained on a knife edge as it reached half time.But nerves were jangling even more seconds after the restart when the ref was forced to halt the action.Hordes of fireworks and flares had been lit by home supporters during the break.Most read in FootballThat caused a huge cloud of smoke to fill the Jan Breydel Stadium.The ref deemed the conditions unplayable just after kicking off the second half, leading to him blowing his whistle was a short break.He picked up the ball and then stopped the action as he waited for the smoke to clear.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd fortunately it only took around three minutes for that to happen and the game to resume.But there was late heartbreak in store for the hosts when Fiorentina were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go.And Lucas Beltran made no mistake in converting it to put the visitors 4-3 up on aggregrate.That was enough to secure their place in the final for the second season running, and the club’s sixth European one, as they look to right the wrongs from last season’s loss to West Ham. More

ASTON VILLA face a huge task to reach the Conference League final when heading to Greece for the second leg against Olympiacos.SunSport betting experts have previewed the contest, and carefully selected our best bets, tips and exclusive sign-up bonuses for the winner-takes-all encounter.Best free bets for Olympiacos vs Aston Villa
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Already have these accounts? Don’t worry, we’ve got loads more terrific deals with our partners.Olympiacos vs Aston Villa previewAston Villa have it all to do after last week’s shock thumping at Villa Park.Now many would’ve predicted a 4-2 win for the visitors that night, especially after Villa levelling at 2-2 on 52 minutes.Conceding two goals in the 15 minutes after that showed huge European naivety in the squad and Douglas Luiz’s 84th minute penalty miss could be a huge, HUGE factor come the end of the tie.Olympiacos had the weekend off so have had a full seven days to prepare for this home leg and know avoiding defeat is more than enough for them to book their spot in the final.Villa were in league duty trying to secure a Champions League spot but came up short in a 1-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex.One win from their last five games – they need a big improvement on recent results to overturn this one.Olympiacos vs Aston Villa oddsOdds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.Olympiacos vs Aston Villa betting tipsTurnaround, potentially?Aston Villa go into the game knowing exactly what they need to win.And that is win.They’re not quite firing on all cylinders and certainly will struggle to keep the ball out their own net. Saying that, their last clean sheet was six games ago but that was at the Emirates.
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Bail them outLeon Bailey has two goals in his last six games and his pace out wide is sure to cause problems.Had two shots in the loss last week – both blocked – and can add to that tally here.This time, we fancy him to at least work the keeper.
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Doug a holeDouglas Luiz’s missed penalty could be pivotal last time out.He’ll be eager to make up for it and in that midfield battle, we don’t anticipate he’ll hold back in the battling stakes.
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