Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Thursday evening, looking to overturn a slender one-goal deficit in their all-English Europa League semi-final.
The Tricky Trees established a lead in the first leg through a Chris Wood penalty after a handball by Lucas Digne. While the Villans have struggled domestically of late, they boast a formidable record on home soil in continental competition.
Unai Emery’s side have won nine consecutive European matches in Birmingham and are chasing their first major final since 1982. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are enjoying their best undefeated streak in a decade as they hunt for a third major European final.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news
- Competition: UEFA Europa League Semi-Final
- Date: Thursday, 7 May 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
- Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
- VAR: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
- Last Meeting: Nottingham Forest 1–0 Aston Villa (30 April 2026, Europa League)
Team news
Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins and other primary starters are expected to return after being rested during the weekend defeat to Tottenham. Captain John McGinn is likely to be included in the squad following a minor muscular problem.
That said, Amadou Onana remains a doubt with a calf strain. Ross Barkley and Alysson are ineligible for this competition, and Boubacar Kamara remains a long-term absentee.
Nottingham Forest
Igor Jesus is expected to feature after being involved in the most away goals in the competition this season. Chris Wood will lead the line in Birmingham as Taiwo Awoniyi is not included on the club’s UEFA squad list.
Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt after sustaining a deep cut in a collision with Robert Sanchez on Monday. Forest remain without Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, and Murillo, while Dan Ndoye is a doubt.
Form
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are enjoying a remarkable season under Unai Emery despite suffering three straight defeats for the first time since 2024. They fell 1-2 to Tottenham last time out while heavily rotating the squad in preparation for this European decider.
The Birmingham outfit have reached this stage by showcasing clinical consistency, including nine straight home wins in major European competition. With three rounds remaining in the Premier League, they remain well-placed for Champions League qualification.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest arrive in Birmingham in excellent form, having extended their unbeaten run to ten matches across all competitions. A convincing 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Monday significantly boosted their hopes of Premier League survival.
The squad has shown immense resilience on the European stage, navigating a difficult playoff run to reach their first continental semi-final in 42 years. VÃtor Pereira’s side has relied on a disciplined defensive structure, keeping seven clean sheets in the competition this term.
Predicted lineups
Aston Villa Predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Nottingham Forest Predicted XI: Ortega; Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Hutchinson, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White; Jesus, Wood
How to watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest?
UK viewers can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1. Live streaming is also available via the HBO Max app and website.
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