Aston Villa-Olympiacos is a match valid for the first leg of the Conference League semifinals and is played Thursday at 9 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
Captain McGinn, interviewed recently, readily admitted it: “We are the favorites to win the Conference League,” said Aston Villa’s Scottish midfielder. The Birmingham club, which is about to play its first European semifinal in forty-two years, actually has been since it qualified for Europe’s third European competition, thanks to a seventh-place finish in last season’s championship.
Even so, there was no shortage of pitfalls in the path of Unai Emery’s team, a coach who knows how to win in Europe having done so four times in the Europa League with Sevilla and Villarreal. In the quarterfinals, for example, the Villans had a rough go of it: against Lille it took a Matty Cash goal at the expiration of time to avert what would have been a scorching elimination. In the penalty shootout, then, the big star was Argentina’s world champion goalkeeper, “Dibu” Martinez, who neutralized two shots from the penalty spot by Dogues players, even arguing with the crowd (a sprain will prevent him from playing in the first semifinal). Aston Villa now dreams of succeeding their West Ham compatriots in the event’s roll of honors, but to detach the pass for the Athens final they will first have to eliminate a team… from Athens: Olympiacos.
Challenge between Spanish coaches
The Greeks have a huge opportunity, to celebrate in their own city, and they want to take full advantage of it. They too are led by a Spanish coach, who like Emery led Sevilla to victory in the Europa League (he was the coach of the Andalusians a year ago in the Budapest final with Roma, which they won on penalties).
We are talking about Jose Luis Mendilibar, drafted to the league running by the red and white club. His impact has been decisive right from the start: if in the league Olympiacos is forced to chase – it is -5 from AEK Athens first in the standings – in the Conference League it has deservedly made it to the top four, eliminating in a roaring fashion Maccabi Tel Aviv (6-1 return victory after losing the first leg 4-1) and Fenerbahçe, folded after penalty kicks thanks to the resounding saves of goalkeeper Tzolakis. In the Premier League, on the other hand, Aston Villa is trying to consolidate fourth place: seven points ahead of Arsenal, which, however, has 2 games less.
Emery will have to do without Martinez – Olsen in his place – and is grappling with the doubt Tielemans: the Belgian is doubtful because of a groin problem. Mendilibar relies instead on El Kaabi, already on 27 goals this season.
The Prediction
Aston Villa will try to direct the qualification and then take no chances in the bedlam of Piraeus. One can give confidence to the Villans, better equipped in all departments and logically favored, but it cannot be ruled out that Olympiacos, by virtue of its swaggering and proactive attitude, will manage to score at least one goal.
The probable lineups of Aston Villa-Olympiacos
ASTON VILLA (4-3-2-1): Olsen; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Digne; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Tielemans; Rogers, Bailey; Watkins.
OLYMPIACOS (4-3-3): Tzolakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Ortega; Chiquinho, Hezze, Horta; Podence, El Kaabi, Fortounis.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
