Key events
Unai Emery: âIt is clear Olympiakos are favourites and we have a very difficult task ahead of us.â
The TNT team pitchside are very keen to emphasise how lively it is inside the ground. Aston Villa have attempted to show they will not be intimidated by going to warm up in front of the most vociferous Olympiakos supporters.
While youâre waiting ⦠here is Karen Carney on Emma Hayes.
You can also join Simon Burnton for some hot Europa League action.
The home fans have been inside the ground for a while.
Olympiakos starting lineup
Olympiakos (4-3-3): Tzolakis; Rodinei, Carmo, Restos, Quini; Iborra, Chiquinho, Hezze; Fortounis, El Kaabi, Podence.
Aston Villa starting lineup
Martinez is fit for Villa but the bench is lacking depth.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Digne; Cash, McGinn, Douglas Luiz; Diaby, Watkins, Bailey
Subs: Gauci, Olsen, Lenglet, Duran, Iroegbunam, Kesler-Hayden, Patterson, Munroe, Kellyman, Young
Will the goalkeeper be fit to start?
Quiet night at the library.
Just under 2 hours until kick off and the Olympiacos ultras are already going crazy in here⦠rest of the stadium is near enough empty in comparison! Aston Villa have a huge game ahead, and a raucous atmosphere to contend with. @footballontnt 7pm TNT Sports 1. #UECL pic.twitter.com/zxcoEPDBqA
— Jules Breach (@julesbreach) May 9, 2024
Preamble
Can Aston Villa turn this around? Absolutely. They are the better team on paper and have the quality in their ranks to win 2-0 away to Olympiakos.
Unfortunately, theory and reality are two very different things because it is going to be rocking in Piraeus. The fans will be vociferous in their support in order to get Olympiakos over the line after their fantastic first leg performance. Olympiakos have never made it to a European final and it would be a monumental achievement for Greek football.
In Unai Emery Aston Villa have a manager who knows how to get through these difficult situations in Europe. He will have made it clear that last weekâs efforts were unacceptable and they need to right some wrongs. It feels like one of those nights where an early goals is key to silence the home crowd and put some doubt back in their minds.
Hereâs to a cracker.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
