Yahoo News John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings after shock 4-2 defeat against Olympiacos
Aston Villa will have to come from two goals behind to beat Olympiacos in their Europa Conference League semi-final second leg after losing 4-2 to the Greek side at Villa Park.
Ayoub El Kaabi bagged a hat-trick for the visitors, with his third goal coming just moments after Villa had restored parity at 2-2 through Moussa Diaby, who also set up Ollie Watkins for Villa's first before the break.
Villa thought they had taken the lead inside 10 minutes when Leon Bailey headed in after a penalty box scramble, but referee Marco Guida blew up for a foul on Vincente Iborra, whose shirt was pulled by Clement Lenglet.
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Just seven minutes later, El Kaabi scored his first of the night as he punished Lenglet for his mistake by converting past Robin Olsen. The Morocco international then doubled his and Olympiacos' tally in the 29th minute by getting in behind the Villa backline once again before beating Olsen.
Villa fought back before the break and halved their deficit through Watkins, who planted the ball in the far corner after being picked out by Diaby. Emery's side started the second half much better, with poise and purpose in possession.
After Lenglet sprayed the ball out to Bailey, the winger found Diaby inside the box, before the Frenchman found a gap at Kostas Tzolakis' front post.
Villa weren't level for long as Douglas Luiz was penalised for handling the ball inside the box. It allowed El Kaabi to complete his hat-trick.
Santiago Hezze then completed a shock victory for Olympiacos as his strike deflected off Ezri Konsa and past Olsen. Luiz was presented with the chance to reduce Villa's deficit after Jhon Duran won a penalty, but the Brazilian hit the outside of the post from the spot.
Player ratings
Robin Olsen
Olsen made his seventh appearance of the season this evening as Martinez was both suspended and injured. Villa are never the same team without Martinez. 5
Matty Cash
Cash led the attack which resulted in Villa's first goal as Diaby then assisted Watkins. El Kaabi's first goal of the night came after Cash played the striker onside. It was very tight. 5
Ezri Konsa
Hezze's goal deflected off Konsa and past Olsen. Perhaps the centre-back could have done more to block the ball. 5
Clement Lenglet
Lenglet stepped up too soon on one occasion when Olympiacos were attacking, which led to the opening goal of the night. His switch across the pitch opened the Olympiacos defence up for Villa to score their second. 5
Lucas Digne
Offered width to Villa's attack, but came up against an experienced winger in Kostas Fortounis, who impressed on the night. 5
Douglas Luiz
Luiz has struggled for form of late. He handled the ball inside the box just after Villa had restored parity and were starting to play well. At the other end, his miss from the spot just about summed his night up. 4
John McGinn
Villa missed the control Tielemans offers in the double pivot and also McGinn's power further forward. He operated higher up later in the second half which helped Villa sustain pressure. 5
Leon Bailey
He was Villa's outlet on the right. He combined well with Diaby throughout the match. 6
Morgan Rogers
Came close to scoring inside the first 10 minutes as he bent the ball towards the far post from the edge of the box, but Tzolakis made a great save to deny him. 6
Moussa Diaby
Diaby made his 50th Villa appearance of the season tonight, just 285 days after joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen last July. He marked the milestone by assisting Watkins and scoring Villa's second of the evening. 7
Ollie Watkins
Took his goal well from an acute angle. Villa didn't give him many more chances to score after the break. 6
SUBS
Jhon Duran (for Rogers, 74'), Tim Iroegbunam (for Diaby, 84'), Nicolo Zaniolo (for Bailey, 84').
Subs not used: Gauci, Wright, Carlos, Pau, Kesler-Hayden, Munroe, Kellyman, Young..
GOALS
Aston Villa: Watkins (45+1), Diaby 52')
Olympiacos: El Kaabi (17', 29', 56'), Hezze (67')
