Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Europa League semi-final preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, team news

Nottingham Forest are set to travel to Aston Villa for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know?

A 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Nottingham was not regarded as a major calamity in the Aston Villa campaign, and Unai Emery's immense experience in this competition will doubtless serve his side well as the tie is decided in Birmingham. The Villans have won their last nine European home fixtures, beat Forest 3-1 at Villa Park in January, and are very keen indeed to make it to their first major continental final in a generation.

The same goes for Forest, who have two European Cup triumphs (1978/79 and 1979/80) to Villa's one (1981/82). The Reds spent much of the campaign struggling in the Premier League, but have regained their footing since the arrival of Vítor Pereira in February. The Portuguese coach led Wolves to a 2-0 domestic home win against Villa in 2024/25, and (factoring in the first-leg result and a 1-1 draw in February 2025) has yet to lose a game against Villa.

Possible line-ups

Aston Villa: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins

Nottingham Forest: Ortega; Aina, Milenković, Morato, Williams; Hutchinson, Domínguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White; Igor Jesus; Wood

Form guide

Aston Villa

Form: LLLWWD (most recent game first)
Latest: Villa 1-2 Tottenham, 03/05, English Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Form: WWWWWD (most recent game first)
Latest: Chelsea 1-3 Forest, 04/05, English Premier League

Views from the camps

Unai Emery, Villa coach: "Tomorrow, this match at Villa Park will be special. Forest have the advantage and for this reason they are the favourites. The players are enjoying the process and they are aware of the greatest moment we are having in three years. We can smile and be proud of everything, but stay demanding and consistent."

Ezri Konsa, Villa defender: "Playing at home is a big advantage for us. When the crowd gets going, and if they are with us from the first minute until the end of the game, we know how difficult it will be for Forest. Ninety minutes is a long time. The main thing is to stay in it, not to concede an early goal at all. It’s a long time to show what we can do."

Matty Cash, Aston Villa defender: "I know we lost [the first leg] but it wasn't a bad result and there's loads of time to play. We'll stay calm, stick together. We know what we are about, we know how good we are at home and [Forest] will know it will be a completely different game."

Vítor Pereira, Nottingham Forest coach: "I want to see my team playing without fear, trying to score and win the game. [This] is a day to enjoy and to compete. It's a moment to show our mentality; that we are resilient and that we can compete from the first minute until the last minute in a fantastic atmosphere. I have a lot of respect for [Villa]; the players, the manager and supporters. But for us, it's only about us. Of course, we'll practise penalties; we need to be ready for anything. I forget about the [first-leg] result. We start at 0-0 and we will fight for the best result."

Nikola Milenković, Forest defender: "Aston Villa have really good players and we must be ready for them, but we believe in ourselves and have confidence. We know it will be a difficult atmosphere, but we've played a lot of games [when we have been up against] really good supporters; this isn’t part of the game that can disturb us. And our fans, like [they did in Monday's 3-1 win at] Chelsea, will give us really big support."

Reporter's view

John Atkin, match reporter
It's advantage Forest. Vítor Pereira's side traverse England's Midlands with a 1-0 lead courtesy of Chris Wood's penalty last week, but they also carry with them the newfound assurance of a ten-game unbeaten run that has eased relegation fears. Villa have been running hot and cold in recent months, but European home games do seem to bring the best out of them: Unai Emery's men have won their last nine at Villa Park, including a 4-0 victory over Bologna last time out.