Aston Villa player ratings v Olympiacos: Moussa Diaby struggles with 3/10, 7/10 John McGinn shines
Aston Villa crashed out of the Europa Conference League with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Olympiacos to end their hopes of silverware.
The Villans already trailed by two goals having lost 4-2 at Villa Park last time out, but were unable to make their possession count as they failed to create many chances and were well beaten in Athens on Thursday (9 May).
While Villa’s hopes of lifting another European title will have to be put on ice for another year, Emery will be hoping that his side can quickly bounce back against Liverpool to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Villa News have rated the players out of 10;
Emi Martinez – 6
The Argentine stopper returned to the fold in place of Robin Olsen having recovered from injury. Could do little about the opening goal as he was left stranded by his defence and made a good save to keep it as 1-0. Excellent on the ball as he completed 965per cent of his passes and boasted an excellent long-range completion rate of 71 per cent, according to Fotmob.
Lucas Digne – 6
The left-back worked his socks off to try and help Villa both in attack and defence. Over the course of the game, he created three goalscoring chances as he rained crosses into the box on seven occasions. Off of the ball, the 30-year-old won 75 per cent of his four attempted tackles, more than any other player and won 100 per cent of his aerial battles.
Pau Torres – 5
While Torres statistically performed very well, he needed to be positioned better to deny the home side’s opening goal as he was left all at see in the penalty area without marking anyone. In possession, he completed 91 per cent of his passes and completed 100 per cent of his dribbles. Without the ball, he won 100 per cent of his ground duels but didn’t make it count when his side needed him.
Diego Carlos – 5
Like the rest of Villa’s backline, the defender did everything he could to keep the home side quiet barring the one moment that mattered. Before he was substituted he won 100 per cent of his three aerial duels and completed 90 per cent of his passes. He wasn’t perfect, but showed his qualities again.
Ezri Konsa – 5
The English international was deployed as part of a back three in Athens and while he did all he could defensively he wasn’t able to impact the game from that position. Won 67 per cent of his aerial duels as he showed he can be effective in the area but would have hoped to have done better with one of his two headers from corners. Was too slow to step up for Olympiacos second and played the scorer onside.
Matty Cash – 4
Cash had a mixed afternoon as he looked strong defensively but did very little to impact the game going forward. The 26-year-old completed 67 per cent of his attempted dribbles but failed to complete a single cross. Emery needed him to be more productive in the final third to help Watkins and Torres was quick to voice his frustration with the defender.
Douglas Luiz – 5
Despite showing his class in possession as he completed 89 per cent of his 79 attempted passes, Luiz struggled to impact proceedings in the final third as he only fashioned one scoring chance. Lost 100 per cent of his attempted tackles and failed to win any of his aerial battles. The Brazilian is capable of so much more.
John McGinn – 7
McGinn was arguably the Villans best player on the night. The Scotsman completed 93 per cent of his attempted passes and fashioned three goal-scoring chances for his teammates. Won 80 per cent of his ground duels and made an impressive four ball recoveries as he covered every blade of grass on the field. How he didn’t pick up an assist with one of his eight balls into the final third is baffling.
Will Moussa Diaby start for Aston Villa v Liverpool at Villa Park?
Moussa Diaby – 3
The 24-year-old really struggled to get involved in the game. Going forward he struggled completing only 25 per cent of his attempted dribbles and misplacing his only attempted cross in the match. Despite having six touches in the box he didn’t register a single shot. Out of possession, Diaby only won 20 per cent of his five ground duels and didn’t enter a single tackle.
Leon Bailey – 7
Bailey was among most things that Villa did well in Athens. The Jamaican international couldn’t have done much more to help the Villans get on the scoresheet as he created three goal-scoring chances, producing an xA of 0.71. Found a teammate with 60 per cent of his three attempted crosses and even chipped in defensively as he entered eight duels. He couldn’t have done much more.
Ollie Watkins – 5
As he has been at times this season, Watkins was a rather isolated figure for much of the game. The 28-year-old had 31 touches in the game and completed 87 per cent of his 15 attempted passes. He would have hoped to get on the scoresheet with his five attempts on goal, but three of those shots were immediately blocked as he finished the game with an xG of 0.47. It just wasn’t his night.
Substitutes:
Jhon Duran – 6
Tim Iroegbunam – 6
Kaine Kesler-Hayden – N/A
Finley Munroe – N/A
Omari Kellyman – N/A
In other Aston Villa news, Emery is “ready to spend” ahead of the summer transfer window at Villa Park after agreeing on a club-record deal
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