Football

Olympiakos FC, the Greek football powerhouse, has etched its name in history by reaching the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Their remarkable journey culminated in a resounding 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the second leg of the semi-final, securing a 6-2 aggregate triumph.The Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus erupted in a symphony of cheers as Ayoub El Kaabi, the tormentor-in-chief for Villa, struck twice to seal the deal. The Moroccan forward, who had already netted a hat-trick in the first leg, proved unstoppable once again.Olympiakos's triumph marks a watershed moment for Greek football. They become only the second Greek club to reach a major European final, following in the footsteps of Panathinaikos, who lost to Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final.The significance of this achievement is amplified by the fact that Olympiakos will face Italian giants Fiorentina in the final on May 29 at the AEK Arena, a mere 10 miles from their own stadium. The symbolism of this local derby adds an extra layer of excitement to the occasion.Jose Luis Mendilibar, who took charge of Olympiakos in February, has quickly become a legend at the club. The Spaniard, who was sacked by Sevilla in October, has masterminded a monumental achievement for Greek football.Owned by Evangelos Marinakis, who also runs Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest, Olympiakos had a dismal record in European competitions before this season, failing to progress beyond the group stage 14 times in 16 attempts.If Olympiakos can lift the first European trophy in their 99-year history, it would be a feat to rival Greece's shock Euro 2004 triumph. It would also be a fitting reward for their Under-19 team, who won the UEFA Youth League final against AC Milan in April.Villa's exit from the competition was a bitter blow to their hopes of reaching a first European final since 1982. Unai Emery's side must now refocus on their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten streak continued in dramatic fashion as they secured a 2-2 draw against Roma in the Europa League semifinals, advancing to the final with a 4-2 aggregate victory.Despite trailing 2-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate after two Leandro Paredes penalties, Leverkusen refused to give up. An own goal by Roma defender Gianluca Mancini in the 82nd minute gave them hope, and substitute Josip Stanišić's equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time sealed their place in the final.Leverkusen's unbeaten run now stands at 49 matches, an incredible feat for Xabi Alonso's team. They have already won the Bundesliga title and reached the German Cup final, making them contenders for a historic treble.Roma, who were without injured star Paulo Dybala, had taken the lead through Paredes' first penalty in the 45th minute. Paredes converted another spot-kick in the 66th minute, putting Roma on the verge of a comeback.However, Leverkusen's resilience shone through as they fought back to preserve their unbeaten record and reach the Europa League final for the first time since 1988. They will face another Italian team, Atalanta, who defeated Marseille 3-0 to advance 4-1 on aggregate.Atalanta's victory marked their first European final appearance, while Olympiakos also made history by becoming only the second Greek team to reach a major European competition final. They will face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Athens on May 29.

Olympiakos stunned Aston Villa 4-2 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final, putting themselves in a commanding position ahead of the return fixture in Athens.Despite being in their first European semi-final in over four decades, Olympiakos showed no signs of nerves. Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a VAR-assisted offside check. The Moroccan striker doubled his tally just before the half-hour mark, exploiting Villa's defensive frailties.Villa, who were favorites to lift the trophy, managed to pull one back through Ollie Watkins in stoppage time. However, their hopes of a comeback were short-lived as El Kaabi completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 55th minute. Santiago Hezze's deflected strike further extended Olympiakos' lead.Villa's misery was compounded by Douglas Luiz's missed penalty in the 84th minute. The Brazilian's effort hit the post, leaving Unai Emery's side with a mountain to climb in the second leg.In the other semi-final, Fiorentina secured a narrow 3-2 victory over 10-man Club Brugge. Riccardo Sottil's early goal was canceled out by Hans Vanaken's penalty, but Andrea Belotti restored Fiorentina's lead before halftime.Raphael Onyedika's red card for two quickfire yellow cards gave Brugge an uphill battle. However, Igor Thiago equalized for the Belgians, only for M'Bala Nzola to snatch a late winner for Fiorentina.

Aston Villa, under the guidance of seasoned European tactician Unai Emery, embark on their first European semi-final in over four decades against Olympiakos on Thursday. Emery, a four-time Europa League champion, aims to add the Europa Conference League trophy to his illustrious resume and complete Villa's transformation from a sleeping giant.When Emery took over in November 2022, Villa languished near the Premier League relegation zone. However, he steered them to a seventh-place finish, securing European qualification for the first time since 2010. Captain John McGinn praised Emery's meticulous approach and obsession with football, crediting him with transforming the club's culture.Villa's European campaign has been marked by memorable victories, including a 4-0 triumph over Ajax and a dramatic penalty shootout win against Lille. Their impressive performances have earned them the tag of favorites to lift the trophy.Despite a recent setback in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea, Villa remain confident heading into the semi-final. Olympiakos, currently fourth in the Greek league, is not expected to pose a significant threat. The winners will face either Fiorentina or Club Brugge in the final.Emery's contract extension until 2027 has further boosted Villa's optimism. His track record of success at clubs aiming to compete with the European elite bodes well for the club's future.Emery's attention to detail and unwavering belief in his players have created a squad hungry for European glory. Villa fans are eagerly anticipating the possibility of their first Champions League appearance since 1982, a testament to the remarkable transformation under Emery's leadership.

Aston Villa's dramatic journey in the Europa Conference League continued on Thursday as they edged past Lille in a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Lille erasing Villa's first-leg advantage before a late Matty Cash goal forced the tie into extra time.In a hostile atmosphere, Lille started strongly and quickly leveled the aggregate score through Yusuf Yazici. Benjamin Andre's header midway through the second half put Lille in the ascendancy, but Villa refused to give up. With just three minutes remaining, Cash capitalized on a defensive error to equalize and send the match into extra time.The additional 30 minutes failed to produce a winner, setting the stage for a tense penalty shootout. Emiliano Martinez, who had been subjected to relentless booing throughout the game, emerged as the hero for Villa. The Argentine goalkeeper saved spot-kicks from Nabil Bentaleb and Andre, securing a 4-3 victory in the shootout.Villa manager Unai Emery praised Martinez's leadership and mentality, saying, "He is very important for us. He has his personality and his personality in the dressing room is very important because he is a leader with his experiences. He has a really brilliant mentality."The victory sets up a semi-final clash with Olympiakos for Villa, who are aiming to win their first European trophy since 1982. Last season's runners-up Fiorentina also advanced to the semi-finals with a 2-0 extra-time win over Viktoria Plzen, while Club Brugge eased through with a 2-0 victory over Aris Thessaloniki.