Olympiakos made history with a resounding 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League semifinal second leg, securing a spot in the final against Fiorentina. Ayoub El Kaabi's double, adding to his hat-trick in the first leg, propelled Jose Luis Mendilibar's side to a convincing 6-2 aggregate triumph in front of a raucous crowd at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. This monumental achievement marks Olympiakos' first appearance in a major European final, a feat unmatched since Panathinaikos' 1971 European Cup final.
The clash against Fiorentina on May 29 at the AEK Arena adds to the sense of destiny for Olympiakos, with Mendilibar's leadership since February playing a pivotal role in this historic journey. The upcoming final comes amidst a promising year for Olympiakos, whose Under-19 team secured victory in the UEFA Youth League final against AC Milan in April. Meanwhile, Fiorentina earned their place in the final by overcoming Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate, setting the stage for an exciting showdown between the two sides.
For Aston Villa, their exit from the competition marks a painful end to their European aspirations, failing to reach a final since 1982. Despite their spirited return to European competition after a 13-year absence, Villa must now regroup to focus on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League for a chance at Champions League qualification. With Unai Emery's side currently seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, Villa's remaining league fixtures will be crucial in determining their European fate for the next season.
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