Aston Villa were not able to overcome Olympiacos at Villa Park and encounter a tricky job in Greece after slipping 4-2 to the travellers on Thursday evening.
The hosts had been able to pull themselves level with the travellers soon after Jose Luis Mendilibar’s aspect gave by themselves a two-purpose cushion courtesy of Ayoub El Kaabi, who would conclusion the night time with a hat-trick.
Though plans from Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby possibly aspect of 50 percent-time saved Unai Emery’s adult men in the hunt, their sloppiness in the deal with of aggressive European opposition instructed, with Douglas Luiz first conceding a penalty for El Kaabi to slot dwelling.
Santiago Hezze’s deflected strike moved Olympiacos back into the direct, and Villa were unable to claw back from the deficit, with Luiz lacking a late penalty and offering them everything to do following week.
Listed here, Mail Sport’s Lewis Steele opinions the hosts’ performances on a troublesome night in the Midlands.
Douglas Luiz conceded at 1 stop and skipped from the place at the other in Villa’s Europa Meeting League defeat in opposition to Olympiacos
Olympiacos set on a rampant displaying at Villa Park to return residence with a two-intention cushion
Robin Olsen stepped up in Emiliano Martinez’s wake and had a night time to overlook in his location
Robin Olsen – 4
This was his significant evening, with the Swede stepping in for suspended No 1 Emi Martinez. He has gained titles in Denmark and his indigenous Sweden, in addition Earth Cup quarter-finals and at the cauldron of Stadio Olimpico for Roma, so it was a little bit much to counsel this was the largest game of his job but it felt defining. Started out nicely but was not commanding sufficient.
Matty Funds – 5
Was gradual receiving out for Olympiacos’s second purpose and performed Ayoub El Kaabi onside. Acquired up and down the ideal flank very well but the remaining ball was generally lacking.
Ezri Konsa – 4
Not his best evening as Olympiacos constantly had runners from deep resulting in troubles, not the very least hat-trick hero El Kaabi. Was barely to blame as the Greek side’s fourth goal deflected in off him but it summed up a inadequate night.
Clement Lenglet – 4
Gave the ball away cheaply for Olympiacos’s next target and appeared off the rate all night. Appeared strange that Spanish defender Pau Torres was a substitute.
Lucas Digne – 5
He was ineffective heading forward and his corners from the proper-hand side were being usually overcooked and mopped up by the Olympiacos defenders. Crossing was poor and wayward.
Clement Lenglet (remaining) and Ezri Konsa (right) appeared much from their best on Thursday night
Lucas Digne’s attempts to spur on Villa’s attack were sloppy and his crossing wayward
Leon Bailey – 6.5
Had the ball in the net early on and obtained into some great spots all through. Offered a wonderful help for Diaby’s target but remaining back Francisco Ortega frequently received the greater of him in duels.
John McGinn – 5.5
Struggled in the first 50 % as Olympiacos dominated the midfield fight. Grew into the match after the break and started to spray passes all-around but was somewhat ineffective.
Douglas Luiz – 5
Villa’s midfield had been much too generally 2nd most effective to unfastened balls and have been overrun, in particular in the very first half. Luiz lacked his common handle of games and his skipped penalty summed up his night.
Morgan Rogers – 6.5
Considered he had opened the scoring right after 6 minutes but was denied by a wonderful Kostas Tzolakis help save. The January arrival continued his great form, though, and regularly popped up in perilous areas.
Moussa Diaby – 7
Always chooses the appropriate solution and has been one particular of the signings of the year in the Leading League. He poked by a charming ball for Watkins’ target then developed a tidy end of his possess at the start of the next fifty percent just after a awesome off-the-ball run.
The Brazil international’s ponderous operate-up from the location observed his eventual shot glide large
Moussa Diaby claimed Villa’s next soon after the half-time mark and briefly took them stage
Ollie Watkins may perhaps have scored but did tiny else to strengthen Villa’s odds in the tie’s to start with-leg
Ollie Watkins – 6.5
Never had any uncertainties he would score when poked as a result of on aim by Diaby inspite of it being a relatively hard likelihood to change. Did small or else, nevertheless.
Substitutes
Jhon Duran (for Rogers, 74min) – 6
Nicolo Zaniolo (for Diaby, 85)
Timothy Iroegbunam (for Bailey, 85)
Not utilised: Joe Gauci, James Wright, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Kaine Kesler Hayden, Finley Munroe, Omari Kellyman, Kadan Youthful.