This will be a special night in Birmingham as Aston Villa take on their first major European semi-final in 42 years. They’ll be facing a Greek opponent for the first time and know a positive result here can help them take a huge step towards next month’s UEFA Europa League Conference final in Athens. Having won all six home matches in this competition so far, the hosts should be confident, yet it remains to be seen what impact squandering a two-goal lead against Chelsea to draw 2-2 on Sunday could have ahead of this one.
Despite giving up a comfortable lead, manager Unai Emery said he was “happy” overall with the way his side played and with how they’ve balanced domestic and European action each week. He should be particularly pleased with his side’s attacking displays of late, especially at home where they have scored 2+ goals in six straight games, and having failed to score in just one of their past 31 European matches on their own turf, history suggests they should have enough to keep that record up here.
Olympiacos have endured a turbulent season by their standards, yet look to be in safe hands with their third boss of the season in José Luís Mendilibar, who joined in February. He led Sevilla to Europa League glory last season, and has the Greek side currently on a seven-game unbeaten run (W6, D1) which includes a dominant 4-1 victory over Lamia on Sunday.
Greece’s most successful club used to dread their trips to these shores and had lost their first 11 games in England by an aggregate scoreline of 33-3, yet they’ve won three games from eight since – all against Arsenal. They suffered defeat away to West Ham in the group stage of the Europa League earlier this season (1-0), however a win in the home meeting (2-1) does at least suggest they have the capabilities to down Premier League opposition on their day.
Players to watch: The ever-dangerous Ollie Watkins has scored the opening goal inside 30 minutes in each of Villa’s last two home European matches while former Wolves man Daniel Podence grabbed a goal and assist on Sunday for Olympiacos, and netted in his last H2H against the hosts.
Hot streak: Olympiacos haven’t conceded more than once in any of their last eight away matches.
