- Forest are unbeaten in five across PL and Europe, with a 5-0 win at Sunderland and a 1-0 victory over Porto sending them into this semi-final.
- Aston Villa are sitting in the top four of the Premier League with 58 points, a European-ambition haul.
- Villa have the edge in recent head-to-heads, including a 3-1 home win in January 2026, but the last meeting at the City Ground ended 1-1.
Two English clubs in Europe’s last four
Aston Villa’s high-octane style and Nottingham Forest’s possession-first style should clash in an interesting tactical chess match at the City Ground on Thursday, with both clubs balancing their domestic ambitions with a European quest for glory in 2025-2026.
Unai Emery’s experience has brought Villa to this place; their high-press, high-line approach is complemented by a build from the back that makes them dangerous when they win the ball back high up the field, while their ability to utilise wide and central channels creates many transitions to exploit.
Emery’s team have won three and drawn one of their last five competitive games, with a 4-0 rout of Bologna in Europe the highlight of the run, but their 1-0 defeat to Fulham last time out put a slight dent in the Villans’ form and they will need to be at their best to get past Forest in this all-English Europa League semi-final.
Pereira’s men have momentum
The hosts are unbeaten in their last five after a 5-0 away win at Sunderland and a 1-0 success over Porto in the Europa League, the latter propelling them into their first European semi-final in 42 years.
Vítor Pereira’s influence on the club is plain to see, with Forest going from relegation battlers to mid-to-lower table regulars since he took the helm in February 2026. He has brought structure, intensity and sharpness to their pressing and set-piece routines, with immediate results.
The Tricky Trees will need to be on top of their game to get the better of Villa on Thursday, but the hosts have momentum, confidence and a City Ground on fire as they look to make history in 2026.
Pivotal personnel
Morgan Gibbs-White is the creative heart of Forest, the player who makes things happen in the final third, and has been at his best in the biggest games this season, including the Porto tie and recent league fixtures.
Villa’s Owl-killer is Ollie Watkins, who has just hit his 100th for the club, while Chris Wood and Igor Jesus have found the net in recent routs, providing aerial threat and sharp movement in the box. Elliot Anderson, meanwhile, brings late-game energy and an eye for goal, as he showed against Sunderland.
Emery can rely on Morgan Rogers, who has scored in Europe, and the tricky Emiliano Buendía, who can unlock defences with vision and movement.
No value in match odds
Villa are 2/1, which seems short considering Forest are 157/100 with a draw 241/100, so I’m keeping this to a one-horse punt for the 90 minutes.
Villa are slight favourites because of their European experience and squad depth, but Forest are having a good season on home soil and can keep this all square going into the second leg.
Both teams to score is a big favourite at 18/25 and that’s understandable, but it still has plenty of appeal given both teams have the quality to hurt each other, and a few goals would spice up what will likely be a tense first leg.
