Right then, I’ll bid farewell because Ben Fisher is the man to read. Here’s his report from Villa Park.

Results from elsewhere. Leverkusen’s stubborn refusal to ever lose is rather something.

Olympiakos’ players have lined up and are bouncing in front of the visiting support. A wonderful time for all who’ve travelled over.

What a fantastic night for Olympiakos and, in particular, their No 9, El Kaabi. He was clinical, following up a first-half brace with a second-half penalty. He returns home with the match ball. Villa could have narrowed the deficit to one, but Douglas Luiz’s penalty was wayward.

90+5 min: Watkins shows clever feet inside the box before a heavy touch sees the ball escape his control and go out for a goal kick.

90+4 min: Olympiakos clear long as Villa try and neatly work it around the box.

90+2 min: Villa work it well to the left, where Digne delivers the ball in … but the very solid Tzolakis cleverly collects in the middle.

90+1 min: Five minutes added on, with Retsos down inside his own box, eating up some of that.

90 min: Durán tries to win the goal of the millennium award with an acrobatic effort from the edge of the box but fails to make proper contact.

88 min: Tim Smith writes: “Was so hoping the Olympiacos number 23 would score an own goal or get a red card, so we could all say: ‘Rodinei, you plonker.’ On another note, the Prem teams without recent European experience are really getting found out by some modest teams with that experience. Or are Villa just missing Emi?”

87 min: Luiz drifts through the middle before playing a nice pass on to the advancing McGinn. His left-footed shot lacks in strength and intent, however, finding the safe hands of Tzolakis.

84 min: Diaby is off for Zaniolo. Bailey is replaced by Iroegbunam. Villa are desperate.

80 min: Fortounis delivers a gorgeous, teasing ball into the box from the right that is just about dealt with by Villa. A corner follows for Olympiakos and a shot from range is saved well by Olsen, diving to his left.

78 min: Douglas Luiz sends it in; Watkins heads wide.

77 min: Villa have a free-kick out on the right, one to get into the box.

74 min: Durán is on for Villa as Emery goes in search of a goal or two. Even one will leave them feeling good for that second leg.

73 min: Nice work between Watkins, Digne and Rogers sees the midfielder slide the ball across goal from the left. Keeper reads it well.

72 min: Watkins’ first touch inside the box from a Rogers pass is heavy, and he has to work it back for a shot on his right foot. Straight at the keeper, though.

70 min: Podence steals the ball centrally but can’t dink the ball in to El Kaabi’s feet inside the box. That’s Podence’s last act in what’s been a superb individual performance; André Horta replaces him.

65 min: Lenglet cleans up a long ball at the back and Villa’s fans roar as they come forward again.

64 min: Rogers’ cross from the right is lashed into the side-netting.

63 min: The good news for Villa? Chelsea have beaten Tottenham.

61 min: Villa work it wonderfully through the middle, with Watkins running on to the final pass played … but Tzolakis reads it quickly and rushes out of his box to clear. It rebounds off Watkins but flies safely out for a goal kick.

59 min: Rogers turns well and plays in Watkins inside the box. He delivers from the left to the front post where Diaby attacks the ball. Corner. It comes in and Olympiakos deal with it and the leftovers from it.

51 min: Villa take possession of the ball and look sharp now, having fired off a wave of attacks to begin this half.

50 min: Rogers shows strength to turn and drive through the middle before Bailey’s shot from the right is blocked by Richards. Villa continue to press forward, with McGinn’s shot from the edge of the box blocked, too.

49 min: Bailey overhits an inside pass for Diaby to chase on to inside the box. Diaby offers a thumbs up, clearly liking what his teammate was trying.

48 min: Podence dinks a ball in to the Villa box, something he relished doing in the first half. El Kaabi doesn’t snatch on to this one.

47 min: Rodinei rushes down the right-hand side and wins a couple of throws before Villa win it back.

The players are making their way back out. Should be going again pretty soon.

A medical emergency in the crowd has delayed the start of the second half. Hope all’s OK.

45+3 min: Villa press forward and Luiz’s shot flies over – but the hosts have finally found their intensity.

45 min: There’s contact between the pair but it does look like Bailey is looking for the tangle.

44 min: Bailey twists and turns inside the box and goes down … but the ref isn’t having any of it. No penalty. Ortega is the man who tangled with the Villa winger.

43 min: Olympiakos go short with a corner before it’s worked in to the middle, nearly dropping perfectly for El Kaabi to have a hit … but he plays it safe and opts for the pass. A goalkick is the end point of the attack.

42 min: Cash goes through the back of Podence with a leaping header – Villa just slightly losing their cool.

40 min: Podence and Luiz have a spat, and the ref intervenes to calm things down.

39 min: Podence leads Olympiakos’ counterattack and Fortounis hits a drive from the right … that just goes over Olsen and the crossbar. Another promising wave forward from the tourists.

38 min: Villa move the ball well through the middle, all the way to Bailey … but he can’t sort his feet out and get a shot off from the edge of the box.

37 min: Luiz lays it off short to McGinn who shoots inside the box with his left … and wins a corner. The ball in is cleared at the near post.

36 min: Cash slides in a ball down the line for Bailey to chase, and he’s fouled on the edge of the box, Carmo sliding in and causing the damage.

34 min: McGinn’s corner from the right is overhit, summing up Villa’s lack of finesse at present.

33 min: Luiz, hairdryer complete, picks it up in midfield and Villa attack down the right as Cash breaks into the box and Bailey picks up the leftovers, winning a corner.

31 min: Unai Emery is going absolutely ballistic at Douglas Luiz.

28 min: Olympiakos happy to just send the ball high towards their centre forward, El Kaabi, and see what carnage that causes.

27 min: A long Olympiakos ball from the back tries to find El Kaabi but it’s headed away. Iborra wins the ball in the middle as the visitors circulate the ball before another long punt finds Olsen.

25 min: Diaby tries to play Watkins inside the box, but there are two Olympiakos shirts hanging tight on the Villa striker, and the ball runs out for a goal kick.

23 min: The Villa fans are still going. Olympiakos are fuelled by the atmosphere at the moment, though, as Fortounis drives forward for the visitors.

21 min: Olsen just about brushes away a corner that flies deep. Fortounis tries to work it back into a dangerous area, but his long diagonal ball goes out.

20 min: Podence is causing problems, sliding in Ortega to cross from the left. It’s blocked for a corner.

15 min: Watkins is clutching on to his right arm, in quite a bit of pain. That’s just after a Douglas Luiz hit from range that has an awkward bounce – but it’s dealt with by the keeper.

14 min: Villa almost get a bit too cute, with Bailey cutting in from the right and passing before the ball works its way to Digne as Olympiakos retreat and manage.

9 min: Disallowed goal! Luiz goes short with the corner and gets it back to dink a ball to the far post where Konsa gets on the end of it, working it across goal before Bailey heads in from close range … but the celebrations are quickly cut short. Apparently there was a foul in the buildup, Lenglet on Iborra.

8 min: Villa have settled in, working it around midfield before Digne tries to slide in a cross from the left. The ball is diverted out for a corner …

6 min: Cash advances up the field before the ball works it way to Rogers, who delivers a fine curling effort from the edge of the box … Tzolakis gets down to his left and pushes out for a corner. A terrific effort. Villa can’t capitalise from the corner.

4 min: A bright opening for Olympiakos, who look lively and keen to spoil the party. Podence is operating on the left and has enjoyed himself in the early moments.

2 min: The Villa supporters break into song before Podence delivers a sublime ball into the box with the outside of his right foot, and Iborra gets a head on it at the far post, with Olsen tipping it over the bar. The flag goes up … but I reckon he might well have still been on.

1 min: Olympiakos knock it around at the back before Podence overhits an ambitious ball into the Villa box.

“Good luck to Villa tonight,” writes Ian Sargeant, a gracious West Ham supporter. “Keep the ribbons on the trophy. Best non family night of my life in prague last year.”

Just 10 minutes away now. Feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts, queries, film recs, life advice, whatever you fancy.

I’ve crunched the numbers and I believe Villa have five changes to the starting XI from their quarter-final second leg against Lille, including Robin Olsen replacing the suspended Martínez in goal. Olympiacos have two changes from their last-eight clash with Fenerbahce, with former Manchester City man Stefan Jovetic beginning on the bench. Another Olympiakos name familiar to Our League is Daniel Podence, on loan from Wolves, who starts.

Just in case you don’t want my company (your loss, but I won’t take any – *he sobs* – offence).

Here’s Ben Fisher on the wonderful time Villa are having.