Villa left with uphill battle after Olympiacos win six-goal thriller

Ayoub El Kaabi scored a stunning hat-trick as Olympiacos took a massive step towards the UEFA Europa Conference League final with a stylish 4-2 victory over Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park.

The Morocco forward gave the Greek team a merited 2-0 lead in the first leg of a frantic semi-final with excellent finishes on 16 and 29 minutes before converting a penalty on 56 minutes after Villa had levelled at 2-2 with goals from Ollie Watkins (45+1′) and Moussa Diaby (52′) either side of half-time.

But the fightback was brief with El Kaabi adding his third after Douglas Luiz was penalised for a clear handball to concede the penalty with a deflected drive from Santiago Hezze on 67 minutes then restoring the visitors’ two-goal advantage on the night.

A dismal evening for Villa’s expectant crowd was completed in the closing moments when Luiz missed a penalty after David Carmo had felled substitute Jhon Durán.

Olympiacos are on course to reach their first major continental final and the first for a Greek club since Panathinaikos lost 2-0 to Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final at Wembley.

Aston Villa will need to go from the ridiculous to the sublime when they chase a three-goal victory in Piraeus next Thursday. After being outplayed for large parts of a dispiriting first half, the Premier League side dragged themselves level with two glorious finishes only to press the self-destruct button moments after restoring parity at 2-2.

Douglas Luiz was at the centre of the Greek tragedy when he clearly handled the ball to enable El Kaabi to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot before himself missing a penalty that would have saw Unai Emery’s side trail by only one goal ahead of the second leg.

It is a long way back for Villa from his predicament against a fast-moving and highly impressive opponent who look made for this tournament.

Only one man worthy of the award as the classy Moroccan forward led the home defence a merry dance with two brilliant finishes and a superb penalty to leave Villa Park with the match ball. Joins Eran Zahavi of Maccabi Tel Aviv as top scorer in the tournament with eight goals in seven matches, and looks certain to get the chance to increase his haul on home soil with the Conference League final being staged in Athens on Wednesday May 29.

Aston Villa: Olsen 5, Cash 5, Konsa 5, Lenglet 5, Digne 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 5, Bailey 5, Rogers 5, Diaby 6, Watkins 6 Subs: Zaniolo 6, Duran 6, Iroegbunam 6

Olympiacos: Tzolakis 6, Rodinei 7, Restos 7, Carmo 7, Ortega 7, Iborra 7, Chiquinho 8, Hezze 7, Fortounis 8, El Kaabi 9, Podence 8 Subs: Horta 7. Richards 7

16′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 OLYMPIACOS (EL KAABI) Ayoub El Kaabi was initially given offside, but VAR confirms he was played on by a disbelieving Cash and the visiting forward produced a brilliant finish to lift the ball over Olsen. Lovely pass too from Chiquinho. Villa Park is stunned.

29′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0 OLYMPIACOS 2 (EL KAABI) And it is that man again as Ayoub El Kaabi races onto the lovely ball over the top from Daniel Podence after Villa’s possession play was broken up. Brilliant finish to slip the ball beyond Olsen as he came out. And it is a 2-0 lead for the visitors.

45′ GOAL! (WATKINS) ASTON VILLA 1-2 OLYMPIACOS Cash to Diaby, whose pass picked out Watkins perfectly to race onto the ball to slam the finish into the corner of the net. Brilliant finish, and just what the home side needed after a fairly lamentable first period. Villa coming to life right at the end of the first period.

52′ GOAL! (DIABY) ASTON VILLA 2-2 OLYMPIACOS Would you believe this? Villa have dragged this match level. Lenglet picks out Bailey who feeds Diaby on the run and he squeezes the ball home at the near post. Some finish. It is 2-2 and Villa Park erupts. What a moment. What a match.

56′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-3 OLYMPIACOS (EL KAABI) And there is the hat-trick for the Morocco forward Ayoub El Kaabi. He plants the ball to the right of Olsen as the keeper dived left. Lovely finish, and Villa Park is again stunned.

67′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-4 OLYMPIACOS (HEZZE) This is the semi-final that keeps on giving as Santiago Hezze lets fly from distance. Comes off the back of Konsa with Olsen scrambling back. Can’t keep it out. A deflected fourth for the visitors. 4-2 now.

83′ VILLA MISS THE PENALTY! Would you believe it! When it rains it pours. Douglas Luiz places the penalty to the keeper’s left, but it hits the outside of a post and flies wide. Tzolakis guessed right, but didn’t matter in the end. A huge moment.