Aston Villa’s first major European semi-final since 1982 fell flat and unless Unai Emery can inspire a memorable turnaround in the port of Piraeus next week, his side’s adventure will end in disappointment.
A few minutes after the final whistle, it was Evangelos Marinakis, the Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest owner, who was basking in victory, high-fiving supporters in an understandably boisterous away end. Any officiating concerns were on the back-burner here.
