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Olympiacos away section: Guide for Aston Villa fans

Written by Will Murray
Last Update: May 9, 2024
Published on

Aston Villa fans will be looking forward to another European away trip following the dramatic penalty shootout victory against Lille in the previous round. A Europa Conference League semi-final against the Greek giants, Olympiacos, now awaits, but the English side must overturn a 4-2 deficit from the first leg.

Olympiacos are well-known for their passion and pyros inside the Karaiskakis Stadium. The 33,334-capacity stadium will be in fine voice for the visit of Unai Emery’s side, with both teams looking to become the second Conference League champions.

 

Fans had the chance to see some interesting sights before the game on Thursday evening, with a few having climbed the Acropolis when they arrived in Athens.

 

Meanwhile, this half and half scarf (don't get us started on those) had a fundamental spelling error…

 

Aston Villa fans
Photo by Icon Sport

How many Aston Villa fans in Piraeus?

An allocation of 1,600 tickets were made available to Aston Villa for the second leg against Olympiacos. Each ticket cost £18, with an additional local travel charge of £10, taking the price up to £28. Villa sold out their away allocation on Thursday, April 25, only a day after they were put on a priority sale to season ticket holders.

Where do the Aston Villa fans sit in the Karaiskakis Stadium?

Away fans are located at the south end of the Karaiskakis Stadium in sectors 123-126. Gate 27 is typically the one used by away supporters, but Gate 26 is sometimes used as well. When exiting the Faliro Metro Station next to the stadium, away fans should turn left to reach the entrance gates. After the match, away supporters are typically held in the stadium for around 25 minutes.

Full fans’ matchday guide for Olympiacos vs Aston Villa

 

Where to eat & drink for Aston Villa fans in Piraeus

The fans of visiting teams for European matches often visit the “Flea Market Area,” which has a wide selection of local bars. To find this area, stop at the tube stop – Monastiraki. From this tube stop, it is a 24-minute journey to Phalero (Faliro), where it is a short walk to the ground. You can also take the “SEF” line that takes you to the “Karaiskakis” ground.

In the past, away fans have also been allowed into the “Rockin’ Bulldog,” which is located next to Karaiskakis Stadium. If they are allowing Villa fans in this year, it is a great option given its proximity to the stadium and welcoming atmosphere.

Ticket collection information for Aston Villa fans in Piraeus

Villa provided a detailed overview of the UEFA away ticket purchase policy, with details on how tickets will be issued to supporters ahead of next week’s game. Every Villa supporter has to fill in a European Travel Form in order for the club to forward you a ticket eligibility voucher. On the website, Villa said, “You must bring a paper copy of this voucher with you to the host country which will be exchanged for your ticket.”

Staff at Villa Park will then provide fans with their tickets. The numbered voucher and photo ID are required to exchange for a match ticket. Villa also add that “Supporters must obtain appropriate travel insurance, as the Club cannot take any responsibility for missed departures, cancellation of tickets, or anything related to match tickets or unofficial travel arrangements.”

How to get to the Karaiskakis Stadium?

For fans using public transport, the best thing is to buy unlimited travel for five days, which costs nine euros. This applies to trams, buses, metro and trains. As advised above, you can take the “SEF” line to the “Karaiskakis” ground, or you can take the green Metro Line 1 and get off at Faliro, which is also located next to the stadium.

West Midlands Police posted on April 26, 2024, that fans should stick to tourist areas and central hotels for the game next week. This is because fans will be picked up and taken to the Panathenaic Stadium (Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou, Athina 116 35, Greece) before and after the game.

When West Ham played Olympiacos in the Europa League earlier this season, the following advice was given: “The coaches are well organised, and the meeting point location at the Panathenaic Stadium is easy to access and there are bars and food kiosks in the locality. We understand that there will be at least 30 coaches provided that are comparatively luxurious compared to the city buses. Travel to the ground is reasonably quick as the roads are closed to allow the coaches under police escort to travel freely.