Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are set to clash in the first leg of an all-English Europa League semi-final on Thursday night, promising a thrilling showdown between two Midlands rivals with contrasting seasons.
The hosts enter the match riding a wave of confidence after a dominant 5-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland, a result that pushed them five points clear of the relegation zone and capped a strong end-of-season surge. Manager Vitor Pereira's squad earned their semi-final spot by edging past Porto 2-1 on aggregate, showcasing resilience in a hard-fought tie.
On the other side, Aston Villa arrive as tournament favorites under the guidance of Unai Emery, a manager with a proven track record in European competitions. Villa cruised through the quarter-finals with a commanding 7-1 aggregate win over Bologna, signaling their intent to lift the trophy. The winner of this tie will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final on May 20.
The first leg kicks off at 8pm BST on Thursday, April 30, at the City Ground. UK viewers can catch the action live on TNT Sports 1 or stream it via HBO Max.
Team news brings some injury concerns for both sides. Nottingham Forest will likely be without Jair Cunha, who sustained a shoulder injury in the Sunderland win, while Callum Hudson-Odoi, Murillo, and Willy Boly remain sidelined. For Villa, Amadou Onana is a doubt after missing their last outing—a 1-0 loss to Fulham—with a knee problem, while Boubacar Kamara and Alysson are confirmed absentees.
Predicted lineups see Nottingham Forest fielding Ortega in goal, behind a defense of Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, and Williams, with a midfield trio of Hutchinson, Sangare, and Anderson supporting Gibbs-White, Wood, and Jesus up front. Aston Villa are expected to start Martinez between the posts, with Cash, Konsa, Mings, and Maatsen in defense, Bogarde and Tielemans in midfield, and an attacking line of McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, and Watkins.
With both teams eyeing a spot in the final, this semi-final promises high stakes and intense drama—perfect for fans looking to gear up in their club's colors for the occasion.