Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are set to write a new chapter in English football history when they clash in a historic Europa League semi-final at the City Ground on Thursday. This fixture marks the first major European semi-final between two English sides since 2009, adding an extra layer of prestige to an already fierce local rivalry.
Forest enter the tie riding a wave of momentum after thumping Sunderland 5–0 last Friday. Vitor Pereira's side are currently unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions, a remarkable turnaround for a team that struggled earlier in the campaign. The Tricky Trees have rediscovered their swagger, and their form at home has been particularly impressive—they haven't lost to Aston Villa at the City Ground in their last four meetings.
On the other side, Aston Villa are chasing a dream of their own. Unai Emery's men are aiming to reach their first European final since 1982, and they bring the competition's most potent attack with them. Villa have won nine consecutive matches in this competition, and Emery—a master of European knockout football—is managing in his record-breaking seventh Europa League semi-final. Despite a recent 1–0 setback at Fulham, Villa remain the highest-scoring team in the tournament this season.
This semi-final promises to be a tactical chess match. Forest lead the Europa League for expected goals created, showcasing their attacking ambition under Pereira. They have also been rock-solid defensively, conceding only seven goals in their last twelve European matches. Villa, meanwhile, will look to Ollie Watkins, who has contributed to goals in four straight European outings, to lead their charge.
Both teams face injury concerns ahead of Thursday's showdown. The hosts are dealing with several defensive absences: Murillo is ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Callum Hudson-Odoi, Willy Boly, and Luca Netz are also unavailable. Jair Cunha remains a doubt despite returning to training this week. January signing Stefan Ortega could start in goal after featuring in recent European ties.
For Villa, Amadou Onana faces a late fitness test after missing the loss at Fulham. Boubacar Kamara stays sidelined with a long-term knee injury, and Ross Barkley and Alysson are both ineligible for this stage of the competition. Lamare Bogarde may continue in midfield if Onana fails to recover.
With Forest sitting five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and averaging the second-most shots in the competition, they have every reason to believe they can upset the odds. But Villa reached this stage after easing past Lille and Bologna, and their European pedigree under Emery is undeniable.
Get ready for a night of drama, passion, and history at the City Ground. Whether you're backing the Tricky Trees or the Lions, this is one semi-final you won't want to miss.