Olympiacos makes history by reaching the final of the Europa Conference League

HELLAS:

Olympiacos will face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final after making history with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in Thursday’s second semi-final.

Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side cruised to a 6-2 aggregate triumph thanks to a brace from Villa tormentor Ayoub El Kaabi, who bagged a hat-trick in the first leg.

On a raucous night at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Olympiacos, champions of Greece a record 47 times, closed out their first appearance in a major European final.

The only other Greek team to reach a European final was Panathinaikos, who were beaten by Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final.

Adding to the sense of destiny for Olympiakos, they will face Italian side Fiorentina on May 29 at the AEK Arena, home to one of their local rivals and just 10 miles across Athens from their home ground.

Mendilibar only took over in February, but the Spaniard has already become an Olympiacos icon, creating a monumental achievement for Greek football.

It is expected to be a golden year for Olympiacos, whose under-19 side won the UEFA Youth League final against AC Milan in April.

After losing last season’s Europa Conference League final to West Ham, Fiorentina sealed their return to the show by beating Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate in Wednesday’s other semi-final.

Villa’s exit was a painful conclusion to their bid to reach a first European final since 1982.

Competing in Europe after a 13-year absence, Villa must recover from this blow to refocus on their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Unai Emery’s fourth-placed side are seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have three games in hand compared to Villa’s two.

Emery was a four-time Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal but was unable to produce his magic again to overturn a 4-2 first-leg deficit.

Olympiacos’ Ciquinho had an early sight of goal after evading the Villa defence, but the midfielder shot wide with a rushed effort.

It was a warning Villa did not heed as Olympiacos opened up the visitors to take the lead in the 10th minute.

Wolves loanee Daniel Podence picked out David Carmo’s over-lapping run and his low cross found its way to the unmarked El Kaabi, who stretched out to slot past Emiliano Martinez.

Villa were out of sync and their start was exposed by Leon Bailey slipping when he lined up a shot that fell weakly past Olympiakos goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis.

Bailey’s header went wide and Douglas Luiz’s long drive was held out by Tzolakis, who watched the Villa midfielder hit a free-kick over the bar moments later.

Costas Fortounis tested Martinez with a 20-yard curler that had the Villa keeper sprawling low to his left to save.

Tzolakis made a superb save to keep out Bailey’s fierce strike with a nimble tip on the stroke of half-time.

With the tie firmly in hand, Olympiacos pressed relentlessly and defended in droves to keep Villa at bay.

Villa striker Ollie Watkins headed home early in the second half before Tsolakis denied substitute John Duran.

Morocco striker El Kaabi put the result beyond doubt in the 78th minute when he sprinted into Tzolakis’ spot, eluded Ezri Konsa and sent Olympiacos into a frenzy.