A place in the Europa League final is on the line on Thursday night when Aston Villa welcome Nottingham Forest to Villa Park for the decisive second leg of their all-English semi-final clash.
Forest carry a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first meeting at the City Ground, where Chris Wood calmly converted a second-half penalty after Lucas Digne’s handball handed the hosts a crucial breakthrough. However, Villa’s formidable European home form means this tie remains finely balanced heading into Birmingham.
Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa into consistent European contenders over the last three seasons. After reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and the Champions League quarter-finals last year, Villa are now chasing their first major European final since winning the European Cup in 1982.
The task is straightforward but difficult: overturn a one-goal deficit against a Forest side full of momentum. Villa’s recent domestic form has been concerning, though. A rotated side suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, extending their run to three consecutive losses in all competitions.
Despite those setbacks, Villa Park has remained a fortress in Europe. The Villans have won their last nine continental home games and scored in 31 of their previous 32 European matches on home soil. Emery’s pedigree in this competition is also impossible to ignore, with the Spaniard winning the Europa League four times during his managerial career.
Historically, Villa also hold the upper hand in this fixture at home, remaining unbeaten against Forest at Villa Park since 1994.
Few expected Nottingham Forest to be in this position earlier in the season, but the arrival of Vitor Pereira has sparked a remarkable turnaround.
Forest enter this contest unbeaten in 10 matches across all competitions, a run that has lifted them clear of relegation trouble while simultaneously carrying them to the brink of a European final. Monday’s impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea further highlighted the confidence currently flowing through Pereira’s squad.
The Tricky Trees have already eliminated strong European opposition including Fenerbahce, Midtjylland and Porto during this campaign, and belief inside the squad is growing rapidly.
With two European Cup titles already in their history, Forest are no strangers to continental success. They have also progressed from 12 of their last 13 European knockout ties after winning the first leg.
Team News
Villa are expected to recall several senior players after Emery rotated heavily against Tottenham. Ollie Watkins should return to spearhead the attack, while captain John McGinn is likely to recover from a minor muscular issue in time to feature.However, the hosts remain without Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and Boubacar Kamara through injury or ineligibility.
For Forest, Chris Wood returns to lead the line after Taiwo Awoniyi was omitted from the club’s UEFA squad. Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to start despite suffering a facial cut against Chelsea.
Defensive absentees remain a concern for the visitors, with Murillo, Ola Aina and Willy Boly unavailable.
Possible starting lineups
Aston Villa:Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Nottingham Forest:
Ortega; Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Hutchinson, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White; Jesus, Wood
Prediction
Aston Villa 1-1 Nottingham Forest
