Prediction: Aston Villa to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
Aston Villa and Olympiacos Piraeus will lock horns with each other in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final tie against Olympiacos Piraeus at Villa Park this week. The match between the Premier League club and the Super League Greece side will be held at Villa Park and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Thursday.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are going places under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery. Not many fancied Villa to do much of note in the Premier League at the start of the season except maybe try to finish in the UEFA Europa League places, but now there is a very good chance that they could end up fourth and win a major European trophy.
The Villans are fourth in the Premier League table at the moment with 67 points from 35 matches. Villa are seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who are fifth and have played 33 games. Unai Emery’s side have destiny in their own hands.
Villa played out a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Villa Park in the Premier League this past weekend. They will take on Olympiakos at home in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals on Thursday evening. The Villans got the better of Lille on penalties over two legs in the quarter-finals.
Team News:
Aston Villa are likely to line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation against Olympiacos Piraeus at Villa Park. With Emiliano Martinez injured, Robin Olsen will be in goal for Unai Emery’s side. Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne will be the four defenders. Leon Bailey, Moussa Diaby, David Luiz and Morgan Rogers will be the two midfielders. John McGinn will be the playmaker and will have Ollie Watkins in front of him as the lone striker.
Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos Piraeus are one of the biggest and most historic clubs of Greece. They are used to winning the Super League Greece and playing in major European club competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
Olympiakos Sýndesmos have won the Greek championship a record 47 times. They have won the Super League Greece title in three of the last four years and could clinch it again this campaign. They have had managerial changes this season. José Luis Mendilibar is the third manager that Olympiacos appointed for this campaign.
Things have improved and got better under Mendilibar, who took over after Olympiacos dropped out of the UEFA Europa League into the UEFA Europa Conference League. They also have very good players, such as Ayoub El Kaabi, Daniel Podence and Santiago Hezze.
Team News:
Key Factors to Consider
- Ayoub El Kaabi has scored 27 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for Olympiacos Piraeus this season.
- Daniel Podence has scored 14 times and provided 10 assists in all competitions for Olympiacos Piraeus this season.
- José Luis Mendilibar has won 12 of his 17 games in charge of Olympiacos Piraeus.
- Ollie Watkins has scored 26 goals and given 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions for Aston Villa this campaign.
- Leon Bailey has scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions for Aston Villa this campaign.
Conclusion
Olympiacos Piraeus are a good team, but Aston Villa are at home and are having a great season. It is unlikely that the Villans would be able to register a big victory, but Unai Emery’s side are likely to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Aston Villa to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
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