Match ends, Aston Villa 2, Olympiakos 4.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn faced up to a chaotic Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg loss to Olympiakos, and said: "Everything that could have gone wrong, did."
Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick for the visitors, netting twice early on.
Ollie Watkins reduced the deficit for Unai Emery's side and Moussa Diaby equalised moments after the interval.
Olympiakos roared back in front with an El Kaabi penalty and a deflected strike from Santiago Hezze.
Douglas Luiz missed a late penalty, meaning Villa must overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg in Piraeus on 9 May to reach their first European final since 1982.
"There were mistakes all round tonight and we'll take responsibility," McGinn told TNT Sports.
"We have a mountain to climb but we know we're capable. The manager was still positive in there. There's still a long way to go."
El Kaabi began the goal flurry with a clinical finish. It was initially disallowed for an offside, but that was overturned after a check by the video assistant referee (VAR).
The Morocco striker added a classy second when he latched on to Daniel Podence's clever pass over the top and slipped the ball under Robin Olsen.
Watkins pulled a goal back for Villa in added time in the first half with an angled finish from just outside the six-yard box.
Diaby then levelled as Konstantinos Tzolakis was beaten at his near post.
Villa seemed to have the momentum at that point but were sucker-punched by their visitors.
Douglas Luiz handled a Panagiotis Retsos header and El Kaabi coolly sent Olsen the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick to take his tally to eight goals in the competition.
There was more than an element of fortune to Olympiakos' fourth as Hezze's speculative effort flicked off the back of Ezri Konsa to wrong-foot Olsen.
Douglas Luiz had a late opportunity to atone for his error after David Carmo felled Jhon Duran but, to the incredulity of the home fans, he failed to hit the target.
Villa caught cold by bold Greeks
The presence of Villa fan Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and a colourful mosaic in the Holte End heightened a sense of expectation at a raucous Villa Park before kick-off.
Emery talked up the importance of a top-four Premier League finish in the build-up to this match, but for the fans in claret and blue it was dreams of a first major trophy since 1996 that largely occupied their thoughts.
If those dreams are to become a reality then Villa will need to be much improved in the second leg after they were caught cold by the intensity of an Olympiakos side motivated by their own sense of destiny.
The Greek Super League side have never reached a major European final and played with a fearless attacking verve as they pressed and harassed Villa into defensive lapses.
Certainly Villa's ability to play out from the back with composure was hampered by the absence of suspended goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and ball-playing defender Pau Torres.
Emery cut an animated figure in the technical area as he tetchily issued instructions to his side, with both Olsen and Clement Lenglet facing his ire.
Villa may need a tactical masterclass from their Spanish manager if they are to have a chance of overhauling Jose Luis Mendilibar's side in Greece.
"We didn't play like we are playing and we need to keep being consistent," Emery told TNT Sports.
"They deserved to win and they are a good team. It's not about luck. We didn't play well. We have to play better."
In the other semi-final, M'Bala Nzola scored in added time as Fiorentina snatched a 3-2 home victory over a Club Bruges side who played nearly a third of the game with 10 men after Raphael Onyedika was sent off.
Riccardo Sottil had earlier put Fiorentina ahead before Hans Vanaken equalised from the penalty spot.
Andrea Belotti restored Fiorentina's advantage eight minutes before half-time, but Igor Thiago got the 10-man Belgian side back on level terms soon after the hour, before Nzola came up with the late winner.
Player of the match
Daniel PodenceDaniel Podence
Aston Villa
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
5.82
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
5.74
- Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
5.38
- Squad number27Player nameRogersAverage rating
5.15
- Squad number19Player nameDiabyAverage rating
5.14
- Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating
4.94
- Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
4.78
- Squad number12Player nameDigneAverage rating
4.54
- Squad number47Player nameIroegbunamAverage rating
4.51
- Squad number24Player nameDuránAverage rating
4.48
- Squad number22Player nameZanioloAverage rating
4.47
- Squad number17Player nameLengletAverage rating
4.23
- Squad number25Player nameOlsenAverage rating
4.21
- Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
4.19
Olympiakos
Avg
- Squad number56Player nameDaniel PodenceAverage rating
7.86
- Squad number9Player nameEl KaabiAverage rating
7.76
- Squad number5Player nameAndré HortaAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number7Player nameFortounisAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number6Player nameChiquinhoAverage rating
6.83
- Squad number88Player nameTzolakisAverage rating
6.80
- Squad number8Player nameIborraAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number23Player nameRodineiAverage rating
6.72
- Squad number45Player nameRetsosAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number16Player nameDavid CarmoAverage rating
6.69
- Squad number3Player nameOrtegaAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number27Player nameRichardsAverage rating
6.67
- Squad number32Player nameHezzeAverage rating
6.66
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Olsen
- 2Cash
- 4Konsa
- 17Lenglet
- 12Digne
- 7McGinn
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 31BaileySubstituted forZanioloat 84'minutes
- 19DiabyBooked at 83minsSubstituted forIroegbunamat 85'minutes
- 27RogersSubstituted forDuránat 74'minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 3Diego Carlos
- 14P Torres
- 18Gauci
- 22Zaniolo
- 24Durán
- 29Kesler-Hayden
- 47Iroegbunam
- 64Wright
- 69Munroe
- 71Kellyman
- 72Young
Olympiakos
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 88Tzolakis
- 23de Almeida
- 45Retsos
- 16Mota Veiga Teixeira do Carmo
- 3OrtegaSubstituted forRichardsat 45'minutes
- 8Iborra de la Fuente
- 32Hezze
- 7FortounisBooked at 83mins
- 6Lima Silva Machado
- 56PodenceSubstituted forLuz Hortaat 70'minutes
- 9El Kaabi
Substitutes
- 1Paschalakis
- 5Luz Horta
- 11El Arabi
- 15Alexandropoulos
- 18Marín Ruiz
- 20Carvalho
- 22Jovetic
- 27Richards
- 70Prekates
- 99Papadoudis
- Referee:
- Marco Guida
- Attendance:
- 41,220
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 2, Olympiakos 4.
Post update
Attempt missed. Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Rodinei.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Panagiotis Retsos (Olympiakos).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jhon Durán (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Douglas Luiz.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Tim Iroegbunam replaces Moussa Diaby.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Nicolò Zaniolo replaces Leon Bailey.
Post update
Penalty missed! Still Aston Villa 2, Olympiakos 4. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) hits the right post with a right footed shot.
Booking
Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Penalty Aston Villa. Jhon Durán draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by David Carmo (Olympiakos) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chiquinho (Olympiakos) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Corner, Olympiakos. Conceded by Clément Lenglet.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Douglas Luiz with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Omar Richards (Olympiakos).
Post update
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
People belittled the Conference League when ⚒️ won it, but we can see now it's not as easy as all that.
Good luck in the 2nd leg.
In Villa's favour is the abolition of the away goals rule. They're capable of winning by two goals in Greece and can probably ease off in the league as Spurs have lost the plot.
UTV
Villa poor defensively, could have gone in 4-3 or 4-4 had we taken our chances but they were clinical in the big moments.
Certainly a test for us now but still not out with a 2 goal deficit.
First goal in the next tie crucial.
Yes we were missing players but full credit to Olympiakos who played superbly.
It's not like Villa are the last English team in Europe 🤪
Almost invisible tug, stonewall trip on Bailey, and whilst Dougies arm was up, was it really ?
Oh the joys of Europe.
BTW great goal by Moussa 💥