Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Team news from crunch Europa League semi-final second leg | OneFootball

Forest's biggest threat

Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus has been directly involved in the most away goals in this season’s Europa League (5 – 4 goals, 1 assist).

He has also had the most shots (34), shots on target (16) and posted the highest xG figure (6.7) in the competition overall this term.

Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:42

Rogers to be Villa's star man?

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has been directly involved in five goals in six home appearances in this season’s Europa League (2 goals, 3 assists), while he has also scored (1) or assisted (1) in his last two outings at Villa Park against Nottingham Forest in all competitions.

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Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:36

Emery's experience to pull through?

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has only once before lost both legs of a knockout stage tie in the Uefa Cup/Europa League and that was with Valencia against Atlético de Madrid in the 2011-12 semi-finals.

In fact, that was the last two-legged tie the Spaniard was eliminated from in this competition, progressing from 22 in a row since.

Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:30

Vitor Pereira fancies ‘fantastic’ finish for Forest after fine win at Chelsea

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira said his team can finish the season “in a fantastic way” after they won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to condemn Chelsea to a sixth consecutive Premier League defeat.

The meek manner in which the home side sank to their worst run of losses since 1993 was in stark contrast to Forest who came to west London with a second-string XI and won with room to spare to pull six points clear of the relegation zone.

Vitor Pereira fancies ‘fantastic’ finish for Forest after fine win at Chelsea

The Reds made wholesale changes but won with room to spare at Stamford Bridge to pull six points clear of the relegation zone.

Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:24

Can Villa reach the final?

Aston Villa are aiming to reach a second major European final, after the 1981-82 European Cup.

But, the last team to overturn a first leg deficit in a major European tie against an opponent from the same nation as them were Atletico de Madrid vs Barcelona in the 2015-16 Champions League quarter-finals.

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Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:12

A third final for Forest?

Nottingham Forest are looking to reach a third major European final after, the 1978-79 and 1979-80 European Cups.

Forest have only been eliminated from one of their last 13 knockout stage ties when winning the first leg, with that the 1983-84 Uefa Cup semi-final against Anderlecht.

Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:06

Morgan Gibbs-White could wear face mask for Europa League semi-final

Nottingham Forest will give Morgan Gibbs-White as much time as possible to prove his fitness ahead of the Europa League semi-final second leg at Aston Villa.

Gibbs-White suffered a sickening cut to his forehead during Monday’s impressive 3-1 win at Chelsea which forced him off in the second half.

There are no concussion protocols regarding the midfielder’s injury, rather whether the wound will heal sufficiently enough for him to be involved as Forest try and book their first European final since 1980.

Mike Jones7 May 2026 18:00

Fortress Villa Park

Aston Villa have won each of their last nine home games in major European competition, since a 0-0 draw with Juventus in last season’s Champions League.

They have also scored in 31 of their last 32 matches at Villa Park in such competitions, with that goalless draw the sole exception.

Mike Jones7 May 2026 17:54