UEFA Europa Conference League-Knockout stages (Olympiacos)

[Dogtanian]

Is that operated by the Party’s Junior Anti-Sex League?

Sponsored by the two minute hate.

[martyn ellis]

I've seen conflicting reports about the consequences of Emi's two yellows. Does it mean he definitely misses the first leg against Olympiacos?

[Somniloquism]

All reports now mentioning that.

[itbrvilla]

I'm in the Scilly Isles for the second leg. Does anyone know if there is likely to be any pub that may have sport on?

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm in the Scilly Isles for the second leg. Does anyone know if there is likely to be any pub that may have sport on?

They don't have TVs or the internet there yet.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'm in the Scilly Isles for the second leg. Does anyone know if there is likely to be any pub that may have sport on?

They don't have TVs or the internet there yet.

And they only use Morse Code or a semaphore to communicate results when the 'Big Six' are playing.

[Pat McMahon]

That was quite a trip, even though I was only gone for 24 hours.

Was sat with Lille fans just to the right of the away end, though we were pretty discreet and didn’t wear Villa colours. The locals were fine, though some got salty after the game when we were cavorting about, which is understandable. Unless you were there it’s difficult to convey how much they absolutely detest Martinez.

Their support was loud and orchestrated but to me not intimidating. Chatting to a few near us and I think the game attracted a few day trippers, as one bloke was saying it was great to chat to away fans like us and that’s why rugby is better, and another was showing me videos of Marseille ultras and saying how poor Lille fans are. A couple of blokes came over to congratulate me after and it turned out they were Lens fans, Lille’s nearest and dearest. We got quite a few fuck offs and English bastard type insults on the tube but it was never threatening, just post match pissed off ness. Those post match beers in the bar for a few hours were most lovely, the weird collection of shots we did much less so.

A late night, a short sleep, 8.35 Eurostar, which was full of Villa fans, and I was in work by 9.45. A long day, made longer by getting home and realising I’d left my backpack in the office so had to do the return journey to work to pick it up ( it had my phone charger and I need it to go home tomorrow for Bournemouth) and I’m fucked now. Happy, but fucked.

[Steve67]

How are Olympiacos doing this season? Any decent players?

[Demitri_C]

How are Olympiacos doing this season? Any decent players?

They are not doing great for their standards- 4th in league 6 points off top with game in hand on aek athens who are top. Tbh this isnt a great olympiakos team compared to ones over the years. They have one of their better players banned for the 1st leg.

This teams nowhere near as good as lille is. However let me tell you this cups MASSIVE for them as final is in athens. They rarely host any finals so to be in semis at this stage they will fancy their chances with 2nd leg in greece.

If you think lille crowd was loud they even worse and very hostile. Unfortunately we do have a hooligan problem over there but one thing that reassures me is that there was no issues in the home game when fenebache went there.  With the hostile relationship between the countries it could have been bad but there was no incidents. I think villa fans will be fine as long as they behave themselves and show respect to the city and people.

[coreyfeldman]

How are Olympiacos doing this season? Any decent players?

They are not doing great for their standards- 4th in league 6 points off top with game in hand on aek athens who are top. Tbh this isnt a great olympiakos team compared to ones over the years. They have one of their better players banned for the 1st leg.

This teams nowhere near as good as lille is. However let me tell you this cups MASSIVE for them as final is in athens. They rarely host any finals so to be in semis at this stage they will fancy their chances with 2nd leg in greece.

If you think lille crowd was loud they even worse and very hostile. Unfortunately we do have a hooligan problem over there but one thing that reassures me is that there was no issues in the home game when fenebache went there.  With the hostile relationship between the countries it could have been bad but there was no incidents. I think villa fans will be fine as long as they behave themselves and show respect to the city and people.

Having lived there and spent a lot of time there and gone to a fair few games I'd be very wary in Athens because if the ultras decide they want a fight no amount of respect is going to matter. Been deaths there recently, including before or after a European game with AEK this season.

There's no away fans in the league due to violence so policing for away games can be all over the shop as there's less protocol, and the police there are terrifying. Not a place to get arrested.

On the flip side its probably the best city in Europe imo. Villa fans can go to the Athens sports bar, that's where the Athens lions meet to watch games and who sponsored the villa 7 a side team I played for

[Demitri_C]

How are Olympiacos doing this season? Any decent players?

They are not doing great for their standards- 4th in league 6 points off top with game in hand on aek athens who are top. Tbh this isnt a great olympiakos team compared to ones over the years. They have one of their better players banned for the 1st leg.

This teams nowhere near as good as lille is. However let me tell you this cups MASSIVE for them as final is in athens. They rarely host any finals so to be in semis at this stage they will fancy their chances with 2nd leg in greece.

If you think lille crowd was loud they even worse and very hostile. Unfortunately we do have a hooligan problem over there but one thing that reassures me is that there was no issues in the home game when fenebache went there.  With the hostile relationship between the countries it could have been bad but there was no incidents. I think villa fans will be fine as long as they behave themselves and show respect to the city and people.

Having lived there and spent a lot of time there and gone to a fair few games I'd be very wary in Athens because if the ultras decide they want a fight no amount of respect is going to matter. Been deaths there recently, including before or after a European game with AEK this season.

There's no away fans in the league due to violence so policing for away games can be all over the shop as there's less protocol, and the police there are terrifying. Not a place to get arrested.

On the flip side its probably the best city in Europe imo. Villa fans can go to the Athens sports bar, that's where the Athens lions meet to watch games and who sponsored the villa 7 a side team I played for

But it tends to be against other greek clubs fans. The big one olympiakos  vs panithinikos awful if you are the away fan. Dont think ive seen attacks against international fans in CL or europa though. As long as you are not going there antagonising them i think villa fans will be fine.

This is first time ive seen villa play a greek team in my lifetime so im excited for this one. Gonna be quite a atmosphere i think in both games!

[Baldy]

The Olympiacos owner also owns Notts Forest.

I bet he will be going through the filing cabinet for an updated 'dossier' on Aston Villa, our strengths and weaknesses etc to be relayed to the Olympiacos manager.

Crucial we take a comfortable lead into the away game. Their home fans can bring 'passion' to a new level and need to be tempered!!

[simboy]

That was quite a trip, even though I was only gone for 24 hours.

Was sat with Lille fans just to the right of the away end, though we were pretty discreet and didn’t wear Villa colours. The locals were fine, though some got salty after the game when we were cavorting about, which is understandable. Unless you were there it’s difficult to convey how much they absolutely detest Martinez.

Their support was loud and orchestrated but to me not intimidating. Chatting to a few near us and I think the game attracted a few day trippers, as one bloke was saying it was great to chat to away fans like us and that’s why rugby is better, and another was showing me videos of Marseille ultras and saying how poor Lille fans are. A couple of blokes came over to congratulate me after and it turned out they were Lens fans, Lille’s nearest and dearest. We got quite a few fuck offs and English bastard type insults on the tube but it was never threatening, just post match pissed off ness. Those post match beers in the bar for a few hours were most lovely, the weird collection of shots we did much less so.

A late night, a short sleep, 8.35 Eurostar, which was full of Villa fans, and I was in work by 9.45. A long day, made longer by getting home and realising I’d left my backpack in the office so had to do the return journey to work to pick it up ( it had my phone charger and I need it to go home tomorrow for Bournemouth) and I’m fucked now. Happy, but fucked.

The only potential trouble we saw was on the metro going away from the game. A few of their lads jumped the barriers at one stop and tried to steam the metro. Didn’t get in. Our taxi driver on the way to the ground was a big Lille fan and told us to stay out of one particular bar after the game. Overall a fun trip.

[AV84]

Wasn't there someone killed before one of the qualifiers this season. Dinamo Zagreb were the away team, I think.

[coreyfeldman]

Wasn't there someone killed before one of the qualifiers this season. Dinamo Zagreb were the away team, I think.

Yep