Match preview

Nottingham Forest have been one of the standout teams in Europe this season. In the quarter-finals, they edged past Porto (1-1 away, 1-0 at home), demonstrating strong organization and an ability to deliver under pressure. The City Ground has turned into a major advantage — under Vítor Pereira, Forest play with intensity, structured pressing, and strong backing from their supporters.

They head into the semi-final with a fully fit squad and no major absences. The tactical focus is on midfield control and quick transitions, but with this being the first leg, caution will be key. Forest are likely to prioritize defensive stability and aim to keep a clean sheet before the return leg at Villa Park.

Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, enter the tie as one of the favourites. They comfortably eliminated Bologna in the previous round (3-1 away, 4-0 at home), underlining their attacking quality. Villa’s strength lies in their possession play, individual brilliance in attack, and Emery’s tactical adaptability — backed by his extensive European experience.

That said, a demanding schedule has started to take its toll, with signs of fatigue among key players. While squad depth offers rotation options, recent performances suggest their defence can be exposed against well-organized opponents. Even so, Villa’s experience and in-game flexibility make them a serious threat, regardless of venue.

Fun facts and head-to-head

Nottingham have won their last 3 matches and are unbeaten in 8

Aston Villa have opened the scoring in 7 of their last 8 games

In the last 10 meetings: Villa 5 wins, Nottingham 2, draws 3

This season: Villa won 3-1, the other match ended 1-1

This will be their first meeting in European competition

Probable lineups

Nottingham: Ortega — Aina, Jair, Morato, Williams — Hutchinson, Sangaré, Anderson, Gibbs-White — Jesus, Wood

Aston Villa: Martínez — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Onana, Tielemans, Rogers — McGinn, Buendía, Watkins

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