Preview, team news, head to head, probable line ups, tactical analysis and where to watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest in Thursday’s semi-final return leg
Villa Park is set for an historic European night as Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their all-English Europa League semi-final with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 local time (21:00 CEST). This tie carries immense weight for both Midlands clubs, as they chase their first major continental final since their respective European Cup triumphs in the early 1980s.
Nottingham Forest travel to Birmingham holding a slender 1-0 aggregate lead following the first leg at the City Ground on April 30. A 71st-minute penalty from Chris Wood, awarded after a handball by Lucas Digne, separates the sides. While Forest have the advantage, Villa’s formidable home record in Europe suggests this semi-final is far from over.
Team news & injury updates
Unai Emery is expected to recall his heavy hitters after rotating heavily in Sunday’s 1-2 Premier League defeat to Tottenham. Amadou Onana is doubtful after missing last game, with Boubacar Kamara remaining sidelined through season-ending injury.
Meanwhile, Forest have been hit by an injury crisis which could see them missing up to 10 first-team players for the return leg away at Villa. Vitor Pereira is sweating over the fitness of Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Ola Aina, Dan Ndoye and Ibrahim Sangare, while Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nicolo Savona, John Victor and Willy Boly are all sidelined.
All 👀 on the second leg. pic.twitter.com/DHjgXQEp4t
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 5, 2026
Head-to-head (H2H) records
Villa have dominated recent home fixtures, but Forest have proven to be a difficult nut to crack in 2026, remaining unbeaten in their last two meetings.
Last 5 Meetings:
- 12/04/2026: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa (UEL Semi-final)
- 03/01/2026: Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- 05/04/2025: Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- 14/12/2024: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
- 24/02/2024: Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Probable line-ups
| Position | Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-2-3-1) | Nottingham Forest Predicted XI (4-2-3-1) |
| Goalkeeper | Martínez | Ortega |
| Defence | Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne | Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams |
| Midfield | Tielemans, Bogarde | Anderson, Sangare |
| Attacking Mid | McGinn, Buendia, Rogers | Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus |
| Forward | Watkins | Wood |
Tactical analysis: The path to the final
The battle: Villa’s home surge vs. Forest’s discipline
The tactical focal point is whether Villa can maintain their strong European home form, having won all their six games so far this season. Unai Emery will likely employ a high-tempo press to overturn the 1-0 deficit early. Forest, however, have shown remarkable defensive discipline in 2026 and will look to frustrate the home crowd by slowing the game down and hitting Villa on the counter-attack via Omari Hutchinson or Igor Jesus.
Manager insight
Emery knows a lapse in concentration could allow Forest an away goal that would double the mountain Villa have to climb. For Forest, the objective is simple: protect the lead. Their success in the first leg was built on a compact midfield that limited Villa to just three shots on target.
Where to watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting at 19:00 BST for the 20:00 kick-off. Streaming is available via discovery+. In the United States, the game is available on CBS and Paramount+, with kick-off at 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.
Market insights & probability
Current market data lists Aston Villa as the match favourites at 55%, reflecting their strength at Villa Park. However, due to the aggregate score, the “To Qualify” market is much tighter. Bookmakers anticipate a low-scoring but tense affair, though the “Both Teams to Score: Yes” market remains popular at odds of roughly 91/100.
