El Kaabi’s brace ends Aston Villa comeback hopes at Olympiacos

Europa Conference League semi-final: Olympiacos 2 (El Kaabi 10', 78') Aston Villa 0 

(Aggregate 6-2)

Aston Villa’s 54th game of a gruelling season, and their 14th in the Europa Conference League alone, ended with the last English team going out of European competition in 2023-24.

Almost certain qualification for next season’s Champions League will be some consolation to Unai Emery’s men and the club’s fans but it did not feel that way as the final whistle went at the end of the semi-final second leg in Piraeus last night.

Villa had put in a strong effort that many did not think their overstretched squad had in them after their tired performance at Brighton on Sunday, but could not find the cutting edge to overturn a 4-2 first-leg deficit. They had the majority of the possession, but mostly in front of a well-drilled and confident Olympiakos defence that was never severely tested.

Morocco striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored a hat-trick in his side’s 4-2 win at Villa Park in the first leg, put the home side ahead after only ten minutes and added his fifth goal of the tie after a lengthy VAR investigation ten minutes from time - his 14th goal in Europe this season and his 32nd in all competitions.

So Olympiakos, fourth in the Greek Super League but experienced European campaigners, went through to their first European final to face last season’s runners-up Fiorentina, although it may not feel as ground-breaking as it might, being staged at the nearby Agia Sophia Stadium, the home of AEK Athens.

The fact that three untried teenagers were on the Villa bench illustrated how injuries have affected them. But there were few signs of exhaustion as they went in search of an early goal that might have unnerved the home side.

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