Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s side are not in their best form, but they know that with the support of their fans they can turn the tie around. In the first leg, Forest were the better side, but the scoreline is tight – just a one-goal deficit – and this season Aston Villa have shown they can beat anyone. And even more so at Villa Park, which is their fortress when they need it most.

The Basque manager is expected to field his strongest line-up following the extensive rotation he made in the last Premier League matchday. Emery knows that a Champions League spot is within his grasp, and right now the priority is to win the Europa League. It will be a night where the ‘Villains’ must be at their best to overturn the tie.

Aston Villa injury news for the Europa League semi-finals

Onana and Kamara

Aston Villa suspension news for the Europa League semi-finals

Aston Villa have no players suspended for this match.

Aston Villa’s latest results

• Aston Villa 4-0 Bologna
• Aston Villa 4-3 Sunderland
• Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
• Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest, for their part, are in the best form of the season. Their latest victory at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea highlights the improvement of Vitor Pereira’s side. Even with a rotated line-up, they were better than the Blues, whom they completely shut down with one of their best performances of the entire season.

For this match, the Portuguese manager is expected to field his strongest line-up, with very few changes from the first leg a week ago. Forest are well aware of Aston Villa’s potential and that there will be moments when they will have to dig deep if they are to reach the Europa League final. But they also know they will have their chances, and that with the collective quality they are showing, they can secure qualification.

Nottingham Forest injury news for the Europa League semi-finals

Boly, Hudson-Odoi, Jhon Victor, Murillo, Savona, Sangaré and Ndoye

Nottingham Forest suspension news for the Europa League semi-finals

Nottingham Forest have no players suspended for this match.

Nottingham Forest’s latest results

• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Porto
• Nottingham Forest 4-1 Burnley
• Sunderland 0-5 Nottingham Forest
• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
• Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest: statistics

Aston Villa have lost their last three competitive matches: two in the Premier League and the first leg of the semi-final. Despite this, they have been reliable at Villa Park, where they have won four of their last five matches, three of them by a margin of more than one goal.

Nottingham Forest, for their part, are on a ten-match unbeaten run, during which they have conceded just three draws. Furthermore, they have kept a clean sheet in five of those matches.

Aston Villa - Nottingham Forest: predictions

We can expect a match where Villa Park will be pushing their team hard in search of a comeback. The Europa League is Unai Emery’s competition, and the Basque manager has prepared thoroughly for this clash. Furthermore, the points gap between the two sides in the Premier League highlights the difference in quality between the two squads. For this reason, and despite trailing in the tie, Aston Villa are the favourites to reach the Europa League final.