Aston Villa vs Olympiacos Predictions

• 11 of Aston Villa’s last 12 home games have featured over 2.5 goals
• The same bet has landed in three of Olympiacos’ last four European matches
• Villa have won all six of their Europa Conference League home games this season

Villans vying for Conference League glory

Aston Villa’s first European campaign since the 2008/09 season has gone precisely to plan so far as they have reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League with the first leg of their tie with Olympiacos coming up on Thursday. 

The Villans will be looking to make home advantage count and take a lead to Greece, and their results in this competition suggest they should do just that. Unai Emery’s side have won all six of their home games in the Europa Conference League this term, with a 4-0 thrashing of Ajax the standout result in that run. 

They are unbeaten in their last six home matches and have beaten title-chasing duo Arsenal and Manchester City at Villa Park this term, suggesting they should be too strong for Olympiacos on Thursday. 

European expert Emery can crush compatriot

The Greek side are only in this competition due to their failings in the Europa League – finishing third in their group behind West Ham and Freiburg – and they have looked far from convincing in making the semi-finals. 

A 2-0 aggregate victory over Ferencvaros was far from convincing and it was followed up with a 4-1 home loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Olympiacos did manage to turn that tie around, however, and they did well to edge past Fenerbahce on penalties in the quarters suggesting they do have potentially net in Aston and help bring up a high goals total. 

But their form still pales in comparison to Villa’s, with José Luis Mendilibar’s side managing only one win in their last four away games and taking just one point from their three Europa League road matches – losing 5-0 to Freiburg in that run. 

Based on their comparative records it seems likely the hosts will be taking a lead to Piraeus, with the Villans’ chances boosted further by Emery’s exceptional European record. The Spaniard is a four-time Europa League winner, so he clearly knows how to win these competitions, and although Mendilibar led Sevilla to the same trophy last season, Emery’s wealth of experience could give him the edge over his compatriot.  

Rogers ready to star on continental stage

Another thing in Villa’s favour, is the talent in their squad compared to their visitors. Star man Ollie Watkins has 19 Premier League goals this term, one more than any Olympaicos player has managed in the much-less competitive Greek Super League, and the supporting cast have been impressive lately too. 

John McGinn, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers have all been chipping in with goals lately, and the latter appeals as a goalscorer bet after netting in his last two games. 

The Villans have netted ten goals in their last four home games and could rack up a decent scoring total. 11 of Villa’s last 12 home games have gone over 2.5 goals while the same bet has landed in three of Olympiacos’ last four European games, suggesting it could pay to back the over alongside a home win on Thursday.