Maybe Unai’s not up to the Basque
UNAI Emery was knocked off his Euro perch – by a boy from his own backyard.
The Aston Villa boss has built up a lofty reputation following his success with Sevilla and Villarreal.
But he met his match last night as Olympiakos chief Jose Luis Mendilibar – a fellow Basque – masterminded a stunning triumph over the Premier League high-fliers.
Emery’s managerial rival has built up a reputation as a fire-fighter but last night he was intent on starting one.
With the help of hattrick hero Ayoub El Kaabi, he put the brakes on Villa’s march in the Europa Conference League. It was, however, some game.
Open
And if this kind of open encounter is repeated next week, it would take a brave man to rule out Emery’s side.
But on this occasion, they met an Olympiakos side – also owned by Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis – who were prepared to trade blows with them.
If either side was nervous, it didn’t show. There was a decent effort inside the opening 120 seconds as play swung from end to end.
Emery had sprung a surprise by naming Clement Lenglet ahead of Pau Torres – the former Villarreal defender has been struggling to shake off a niggle – and Villa’s defence was split when a clever backheel from Chiquinho gave El Kaabi sight of goal.
He approached the chance – fronting up Robin Olsen with all the confidence of a man who has already bagged 29 goals this season and beat him comfortably.
That goal set Emery’s men on their heels.
They were struggling to make any headway and when a pass was cut out on the half-way line, Daniel Podence spotted El Kaabi again.
He didn’t have long to size up his options but the angle of his movement allowed him to nod the ball to the side of Olsen and then squeeze a left-foot shot into the net.
Villa managed to pull one back just before the interval through Ollie Watkins to set up an intriguing second period.
Within six minutes, the hosts levelled. A superb crossfield pass allowed Leon Bailey to collect on the flank. Moussa Diaby gambled and the Jamaica international found him.
Keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis expected a centre but instead the winger fired an effort inside the near post.
However, just two minutes after equalising, midfielder Douglas Luiz senselessly threw up his arm as Olympiakos swung in a deep corner and gave away a penalty.
El Kaabi accepted gleefully, sending Olsen the wrong way.
Soon there was a fourth. Midfielder Santiago Hezze tried his luck from outside the area.
Deflection
It struck the shoulder of Ezri Konsa and that deflection was sufficient to add the fourth. Still Villa piled forward.
Sub Jhon Duran was adjudged to have been upended by David
Carmo and Luiz had the chance to make amends for his early error by reducing the deficit from the spot.
He hit the outside of the framework, leaving Villa with all the work to do.
After the game, Villa captain John McGuinn said: “Not the game we wanted. We wanted a lot more control.
“We started the game well. They’re a good side. We wanted a victory going to Greece. We showed we’re capable of coming back.
“Mistakes all round tonight. We’ll take responsibility but it’s up to us to go to Athens and turn it around because we’re capable. They played very well tactically.
“They played the way we expected so there were no surprises.”
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Olsen 5; Cash 6, Konsa 6, Lenglet 5, Digne 6; Luiz 5, McGinn 6, Rogers 6 (Duran 74), Diaby 8 (Iroegbunam 84); Bailey 7 (Zaniolo 84), Watkins 7.
OLYMPIAKOS (4-5-1): Tzolakis 5; Rodinei 6, Retsos 6, Carmo 6, Ortega 5 (Richards 46, 6); Hezze 6, Iborra 7, Chiquinho 6, Podence 7 (Horta 70, 5), Fortounis 6; El Kaabi 9.
Referee: M Guida (ITA) – 6.