Olympiacos vs Aston Villa – Europa Conference League: Live score, team news and updates as Unai Emery’s side need to overturn a two-goal deficit if they wish to advance to the final in Athens

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis:

Tough as this will be, there is hope for Villa tonight. If Martinez – as seems likely – starts, they are a different team. And Olympiacos have not beaten an English team here since their win over Burnley nearly six years ago. At 4-2 up, how will the home side play it?

The answer is, we don’t know yet…

Emi Martinez has travelled to Greece with his Aston Villa teammates and faces a late fitness test which will determine if he features.

The Argentine goalkeeper has sat out the last two games with a hamstring problem, which included the first leg, although he was suspended anyway.

There is no guarantee that Martinez will return and Unai Emery could turn to Robin Olsen once again after saying on Wednesday ‘If he plays, he has our respect’.

Who will start in goal? The team news will be out soon…

Tonight could potentially be a historical one for Olympiacos.

The Greek side are in pole position to make the Europa Conference League final, and if they seal the deal tonight, it will be the first time the club has ever made a European final.

They would also be only the second Greek team to reach a major UEFA competition final, Panathinaikos are the one and only side to manage it back in 1970-71.

The stakes are high for Olympiacos.

Jose Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos boss, speaking on Wednesday:

I hope not (the biggest match of the season). I hope there is one more. We have to be focused; the situation has not changed much since the first match. You qualify over two legs, and Aston Villa will play hard to reach the final, as will we. Both teams have a chance. The players are starting to believe in themselves and when you do that things can go a lot better.

The Aston Villa fans are already making themselves heard.

It seems the fans want to make the most of their trip to Greece and have already started making their way into the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis.

It’s a huge night for their team, Villa will need their backing every step of the way.

Will they witness a historic night for their club?

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, speaking on Wednesday:

We must do better. It will be difficult with the atmosphere. We need to build a new experience here with our players and our idea. This is the biggest game of the season. We will try to come back but they are favourites. We will play there trying to show something different.

(What they need to improve) Everything. We conceded four goals, lost a lot of balls. We were extra motivated and extra excited. It’s a very good moment playing in the semi-final and we lost the first leg. We will have the second opportunity.

It’s fair to say, Aston Villa had a nightmare last week.

Going into the first leg, the Villans were the favourites to win the competition, but things quickly changed as soon as play got underway.

Villa did not perform to the standard we have come accustomed to with them, while Olympiacos were ruthless. A hat-trick from Ayoub El Kaabi and Santiago Hezze’s deflected strike stunned Villa Park.

Villa did get level at one point through Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby, but they couldn’t keep the clinical Greek side out.

Their night got even worse when Douglas Luiz missed from the spot to make it 4-3. It was not his finest evening in Villa colours.

Remember, it is only halfway, but it will take a monumental display from the English side to turn things around this evening.

Villa may be down but are not out… yet.

Fiorentina have only gone and done it again, haven’t they?

The Italian side have given themselves a chance to avenge their defeat to West Ham in the Europa Conference League final last year by securing their spot in the final for a second consecutive year.

It wasn’t drama-free by any means, but Fiorentina got the job done by means of an 85th-minute penalty to seal a 4-3 aggregate win over Club Brugges.

Who will they be meeting in the final, though, Olympiacos or Aston Villa?

The Italians will be watching intently tonight. If they are not still hungover, that is.

Villa and Olympiacos are not the only teams in action tonight, there is also some Europa League semi-final action tonight, and the ties are looking tasty.

• Atalanta vs Marseille (agg: 1-1) – 8pm
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma (agg: 2-0) – 8pm

We will provide you with scoreline updates throughout the evening from these two matches.

Aston Villa certainly haven’t made it easy for themselves…

They are going to have to pull off something special if they are to reach their first European final since 1982.

The Villans’ form of late has left something to be desired, they have just one win in their last five games in all competitions.

If you compare that with Olympiacos, who have won six of their last eight matches, then the task does not look any easier.

The Greek side have the chance to reach their first-ever European final, and no Greek team has ever won a major European trophy. There is a lot on the line for them.

All the ingredients blended together mean this match has the potential to be a classic.

I for one can’t wait for it to get started.

Alexa, play ‘I Believe in Miracles’ by the Jackson Sisters.

Aston Villa will certainly have to adopt that mantra this evening if they want to defy the odds and reach the Europa Conference League final.

The Villans have a mountain to climb in Greece after their 4-2 defeat to Olympiacos at Villa Park in the first leg.

It was a result that shocked many, but in truth, Villa’s form of late suggested that it was coming. They need that to change tonight.

Can Unai Emery’s side spring a shock comeback, or will Olympiacos compile European misery on the Villans?

To find out, make sure you stay with us all evening. It’s going to be a cracker.

Right, let’s get going then, shall we?