Olympiacos v Villa Pre-match Thread

[WassallVillain]

Olympiakos fan here. Some comments make me wonder if we saw a different game. No one can disagree that Villa is the better team by far and for us to win the 1st leg happened because of luck, villa's injuries, villas overconfidence, tiredness and a very friendly ref towards us. But there is a huge difference between a friendly ref who gave the  few disputed incidents in our favor than the AL Capone that many of you present  him. He is not the Tunisian ref who allowed Maradona score with his hand. Sure he could.have allowed the goal instead of giving a foul but it's not like he invented something non existing. We all saw the attacker pulling the defenders shirt and then the ball hitting his head while he was down for an easy goal for Bailey. He could have given Baileys penalty sure. But also in this case the defender kicks the ball first before their feet entangled. About the penalty we were given, extended arm is always considered penalty and doesn't matter if he wasn't looking or if he had no intention. If all those cases were in favor of Villa instead, then it would have been us complaining about a hostile ref. Anyway we are expecting a tough game against a better team that won't make the same mistake to underestimate us this time. It's 50/50

Nothing I can disagree with their gkap7. Well deserved victory at VP What surprised me most was Olympiakos still going for goals deep into added time when most teams head for the corners.  Don’t worry too much about the referee conspiracies. Some folks live their life that way and need to get their excuses in early.

[Hookeysmith]

There must of been some footage of who has travelled and who has not

No sign of Rogers, Tielemans or Zaniolo anywhere near the training ground in the build up

[Dave P]

We've played the build up cards close to our chest.  I would love to see Tielemans back.

[Dave P]

Why is it, if we were level going into today, I'd think we'd have no chance BUT being two goals down and knowing what we have to do, I'm quietly confident?

[PaulWinch again]

Why is it, if we were level going into today, I'd think we'd have no chance BUT being two goals down and knowing what we have to do, I'm quietly confident?

The only thing I can think of is a deficit brings clarity. If I were going to look positively I think in a lot of the away (and some of the home) European games we’ve played in a really stodgy way. I think in an effort to maintain control, but it’s not really come off. The deficit means we have no choice but to be more proactive. Doesn’t mean being reckless, but we’re going to have to be on the front foot. It’s still a disadvantage clearly, but it might free us up from a mentality point of view.

[PaulWinch again]

And the example of that type of display came against Lille in the last round. Clearly they’re a good side, but I think we got caught between sticking or twisting and we nearly paid the price.

[Dogtanian]

I find I'm only ever nervous when we are winning and have something to lose.

[LeeB]

Coventry were 3 down with 20 minutes to go a few weeks back having not been in the game at all until that point. Things can change very quickly.

[john e]

problem we have is we’ve got to go for it tonight and we arn’t a team that really does that
We do that patient passing around the back looking for a opening, and that will suit them as we need to build up pressure on their goal and get them panicking a bit

[VillaTim]

Imagine they'll sit back park the bus and look to counter . We have it all to do, 1st goal absolutely crucial .

[coreyfeldman]

problem we have is we’ve got to go for it tonight and we arn’t a team that really does that
We do that patient passing around the back looking for a opening, and that will suit them as we need to build up pressure on their goal and get them panicking a bit

we've scored plenty of goals this season by playing this way, and unai certainly isn't going to change his methods now. If we go all gung ho from the start and caught on the counter the game is over.

In an ideal world we find the ability to play our usual game, control the ball and exert the pressure that way. A goal in the first half makes the tie very jittery for them

[Footy-Vill]

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2024-05-09/villa-fans-in-athens-brace-themselves-for-europa-conference-league-semi-final

This is great to read
Martin Garnham an Aston Villa fan!  runs the Athens Sports Bar.

He said: "It was kind of a dream come true to get all the Villa fans here. We run the Greek Lions Villa Supporters Club. So we've normally got about five or six fans at the bar watching the game. But now we're going to have a bar that's actually full of fans, which is fantastic."

One Villa fan who travels alone tells me, "You always meet everyone. It's just a massive community and it's genuinely like going on holiday with your mates, people you've never met before, and you come away with lasting friendships."

[Footy-Vill]

Are there any Greek Lions Villa supporters on H and V?
Be great to hear some insight from over there!

Closer gets to kick off more excited I'm getting for the comeback !

[eamonn]

Get Him To The Greek. Worst film ever (after Sex Lives Of The Potato Men). I haven't seen either but you just know.

[gkap7]

Are there any Greek Lions Villa supporters on H and V?
Be great to hear some insight from over there!

Closer gets to kick off more excited I'm getting for the comeback !

Demitri_C i think is