Nottingham Forest are on the cusp of a historic Europa League final appearance, and they'll look to punch their ticket to Istanbul when they face Aston Villa in the second leg of the semifinals on Thursday, May 7. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Villa Park, with Forest carrying a 1-0 aggregate lead after last week's gritty home victory.
Forest have been simply unstoppable lately. Unbeaten in 10 matches across all competitions, they showed their depth by resting key players over the weekend and still dismantled Chelsea 3-1. That kind of form is exactly what you need heading into a high-stakes European clash. Meanwhile, Aston Villa find themselves in a rough patch, having lost three straight, but don't count them out just yet. Sitting fifth in the Premier League, they've proven all season they belong on the big stage.
The winner of this tie advances to the May 20 final in Istanbul, where they'll face either SC Freiburg or Braga—Braga currently leads that semifinal 2-1 on aggregate heading into Wednesday's second leg.
According to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, Aston Villa enter as -135 home favorites on the 90-minute money line, meaning a $135 bet would net $100. Nottingham Forest are +350 underdogs (a $100 wager returns $350), while a draw is priced at +290. The over/under for total goals is set at 2.5, with the Over at -115 and the Under at -110.
For expert analysis, SportsLine soccer specialist Jon Eimer has been on fire. As the platform's No. 1 soccer expert in 2023, he posted a 248-234-12 record with a +25.93 unit profit. And he's carried that momentum into 2025, consistently cashing in on Premier League, Champions League, and La Liga action. His picks have been a goldmine for bettors, and he's locked in his best bets for this crucial semifinal showdown.
Whether you're backing Forest's red-hot run or expecting Villa to bounce back at home, this is the kind of match that defines a season. The stage is set, and the stakes couldn't be higher.