Aston Villa v Olympiacos - UECL Semi Final First Leg Pre Match

[Bad English]

Olympiacos, throughout its European history, has eliminated (in either knockout matches or group stages) clubs like Milan, Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, Celtic, Werder Bremen, Anderlecht, Monaco, Deportivo La Coruña, Hertha BSC, Cagliari, PSV Eindhoven and Standard Liège among others. They have spent most of their European history in the UEFA Champions League, where they are widely known for being a very strong home side, having run some long-standing sequences, such as the 15 straight UEFA Champions League unbeaten home matches since their debut in the tournament under its new format, when Manchester United stopped their record in their fifth consecutive participation, and their 15 wins in 19 UEFA Champions League home matches between 2009–10 and 2014–15. They have a vast record of home wins over traditional European powerhouses and UEFA Champions League winners, such as Real Madrid, Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United, Ajax, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Porto, Marseille, PSV Eindhoven, and Celtic among many other major European clubs.

This is why we're in Europe: to take on other European teams, many of whom have European pedigrees and experience, and to beat them, ultimately adding silverware to our cabinet.

I'm leaving a function early on Thursday because there is no way I am not going to see us FTF on our way to the final. This tournament will have been valuable experience for our future Champions League or Europa* League games and beating Bruges or Fiorentina will be massive for the fans, the players and all connected with the club.

It is neither the Leyland DAF nor the Intertoto in my eyes. I bet Unai feels the same way.

*Not that we'll be in the the Europa, of course. Fack Spurs!

[itbrvilla]

I'm not talking down anything. Maybe it's an age thing, I've seen us win stuff over many years so I am not as hungry for this newish competition as say fans 20 or 30 years younger who are starved of a trophy and I get that.  If we were two or three places lower in the league then yes, it would be of the utmost importance. We're not, we've already qualified for the Europa next season, guaranteed 4th or at worst 5th in the league. Winning this trophy would be the cherry on top of the icing already on the cake and I hope I am lucky enough to get a ticket for the final should we get there.

We’re not that much difference age wise Bren, but have to disagree. This feels massive to me, i have that weird mix of excitement and nervous energy already. A semi final of European competition, huge

People in the media and on social media have been talking about us none stop this season. Add a trophy and a top 4 finish and they'll keep doing it. This is how we boost and project our name and reputation and grow the revenue and commercial side of the business.Up up and away!

[eamonn]

Olympiacos, throughout its European history, has eliminated (in either knockout matches or group stages) clubs like Milan, Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, Celtic, Werder Bremen, Anderlecht, Monaco, Deportivo La Coruña, Hertha BSC, Cagliari, PSV Eindhoven and Standard Liège among others. They have spent most of their European history in the UEFA Champions League, where they are widely known for being a very strong home side, having run some long-standing sequences, such as the 15 straight UEFA Champions League unbeaten home matches since their debut in the tournament under its new format, when Manchester United stopped their record in their fifth consecutive participation, and their 15 wins in 19 UEFA Champions League home matches between 2009–10 and 2014–15. They have a vast record of home wins over traditional European powerhouses and UEFA Champions League winners, such as Real Madrid, Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United, Ajax, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Porto, Marseille, PSV Eindhoven, and Celtic among many other major European clubs.

This is why we're in Europe: to take on other European teams, many of whom have European pedigrees and experience, and to beat them, ultimately adding silverware to our cabinet.

I'm leaving a function early on Thursday because there is no way I am not going to see us FTF on our way to the final. This tournament will have been valuable experience for our future Champions League or Europa* League games and beating Bruges or Fiorentina will be massive for the fans, the players and all connected with the club.

It is neither the Leyland DAF nor the Intertoto in my eyes. I bet Unai feels the same way.

*Not that we'll be in the the Europa, of course. Fack Spurs!

Hear, hear! (What do the French say for that?)

[Bad English]

You can say « Bien dit !” » / « Bravo ! » / « Tout à fait ! » etc.

[eamonn]

Merci!

[Pete3206]

It’s one below the old UEFA Cup which used to be the Intertoto.

Interesting matches and travel experiences but that’s what it is !

What a load of absolute tosh.

[trinityoap]

What's the bloody point of beng in it if you don't go all out to win in?

[VILLA MOLE]

It’s one below the old UEFA Cup which used to be the Intertoto.

Interesting matches and travel experiences but that’s what it is !

What a load of absolute tosh.

I think you are selling it short there mate

[trinityoap]

I know what I meant to type!

[Brazilian Villain]

I know what I meant to type!

You do know you can edit your posts.

[AV84]

Is chambers in the euro squad?

I don't think he is. If I remember correctly it was submitted a few days before the window closed and he was supposed to leave, but obviously didn't, so he wasn't included on the submitted squad list.

[VillaTim]

We haven’t won a trophy this century. Let’s put that right first and then we can be sniffy about how highly we rate the next ten that we win under Unai.

We won the intertoto in 2001 didn't we ?

[Lastfootstamper]

A third of an intertoto.

[Demitri_C]

Compared to previous olympiakos teams this ones not great. But they will fancy their chances with our injuries and 2nd game in greece

[ASHTONVILLA]

Is it only me that really enjoyed winning the Intertoto?

Not saying it was our greatest achievement, but it wasn't the Peace Cup either.

Anyways the Conference League is a proper competition. If we win it we will have faced Ajax, Lille, Olympiakos and we should be proud of it.

People playing down the League Cup boils my piss too, I love that competition and we have done better than most in it.