We are well and truly into the business end of the season and Thursday night sees the first legs of the Europa Conference League 2024 semi-finals taking place in Birmingham and Florence. Aston Villa are flying the flag for England as the only Premier League side left in European competition at this stage of the season.
Manager Unai Emery, who has won the Europa League title on four previous occasions, will look to draw on all of his experience in European tournaments as his Villa side prepare to host Olympiacos at Villa Park. Thursday night also provides an intriguing encounter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi as Fiorentina host Belgian title contenders Club Brugge in Florence.
Europa Conference League 2024: Aston Villa v Olympiacos
As Villa look on course to be playing Champions League football next season, their focus for the moment is on a big game on Thursday night against Olympiacos in the last four of the Europa Conference League. Villa have shown their quality in the knockout stages of this competition, seeing off Dutch giants Ajax, before overcoming Ligue 1 side Lille thanks to a penalty shootout victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
It’s been a tremendous experience for Villa and a squad that have come on leaps and bounds since Emery took over from Steven Gerrard back in October 2022. Villa’s recent games have not lacked drama, with both teams finding the back of the net in all of their last four outings in all competitions.
With 17 goals scored across those four games, another match with both teams getting on the scoresheet can be expected on Thursday night in the West Midlands. Home advantage can prove key in this one and Villa should maintain their perfect home winning record in this competition at Villa Park.
Europa Conference League 2024: Fiorentina v Club Brugge
Fiorentina managed to reach the Europa Conference League final last year and will be determined to reach the showpiece again and lift the trophy this time around. Standing in their way of a place in the final are a Club Brugge side that are going toe-to-toe with rivals Anderlecht for the Belgian league title this season.
La Viola are down in eighth place in the Serie A standings and have been able to put all of their focus into Thursday’s home game at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina have lost just one of their last nine games on home soil in all competitions, while the scoreline has been all-square at full-time in four of Fiorentina’s last five games in the Europa Conference League. Neither of these sides will be looking to give too much away in this opening exchange and a low-scoring draw might well be on the cards in Florence.
Europa Conference League 2024: Semi-Finals First legs Tips
Aston Villa to win and both teams to score @ 2.75 with kwiff
Fiorentina v Club Brugge draw @ 3.15 with kwiff
By Jack Ogalbe
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