Two Premier League clubs without a win from their opening three matches meet at Villa Park on Saturday, as Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest.
It is a repeat of last season’s Europa League semi-final, which Villa won 4-1 on aggregate on their way to lifting the trophy in Istanbul. Unai Emery’s side have lost to Brighton and Arsenal and drawn with Hull City in the league, failing to score in any of the three, though they ended a five-match winless run across all competitions with a 3-2 Champions League victory at Club Brugge in midweek.
Emery called that result “one very important step forward.” Forest, meanwhile, are without a Premier League win since Oliver Glasner succeeded Vitor Pereira at the City Ground, taking two points from their opening three games.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Venue: Villa Park
- Referee: Andy Madley
- Last meeting: Aston Villa 4-0 Nottingham Forest (Europa League semi-final second leg, 7 May 2026; Villa won 4-1 on aggregate)
Team news
Aston Villa
Leon Goretzka, Johan Manzambi and Amadou Onana are all out with knee problems, while Brian Madjo (ankle) is also sidelined. Joao Gomes serves the final match of a three-game suspension. Matty Cash sat out the Club Brugge win with muscle fatigue and is a doubt, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka ready to deputise at right-back. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, ineligible for the Champions League tie, returns to contention and could challenge Victor Lindelof for a starting centre-back spot.
Nottingham Forest
Nicolo Savona remains the only enforced absentee, with Glasner confirming this week that the defender is “progressing slowly” through his recovery from a knee injury. Ibrahim Sangare, a doubt after missing the draw with Tottenham, is available again and will compete with James McAtee for a place alongside Xaver Schlager in central midfield. Daniel Munoz is pushing for a first Forest start at right wing-back ahead of Ola Aina.
Form
Aston Villa
Villa have lost their opening two Premier League matches and drawn the third without finding the net, leaving them 19th for expected goals and 18th for touches in the opposition box after three rounds. The Champions League win at Club Brugge offered their first sign of attacking rhythm this season, with Nicolas Jackson scoring his maiden Villa goal.
Nottingham Forest
Forest have also gone without a league win, taking two points from three games and scoring twice. Glasner’s side let a VAR-reversed goal cost them victory at Tottenham last weekend, and the manager says his team are missing “the final bit” in front of goal despite creating enough situations to win matches.
Predicted lineups
Aston Villa predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Barkley; McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings; Jackson
Nottingham Forest predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Sels; Milenkovic, Cunha, Murillo; Munoz, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White, Jesus; Delap
How to watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest?
The match is not being shown live on television in the United Kingdom, with the 15:00 Saturday kick-off falling inside the traditional domestic blackout window.
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