Verdict: Nottingham Forest to qualify
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Luckster
With a spot in the final of this season’s Europa League still firmly up for grabs on Thursday night, Aston Villa will welcome Nottingham Forest across the Midlands for their second-leg showdown.
Aston Villa
Starting with the hosts, while Aston Villa might have opened 2026 in the midst of a remarkable purple patch, Unai Emery’s men have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Failing to claim a first-leg advantage last week and putting in a toothless performance as they were hit with a 1-0 loss at the City Ground, the one-time Arsenal boss has made his budding frustrations clear. Putting in another concerning display over the weekend as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home against relegation scrappers Tottenham, Aston Villa have now lost each of their previous three consecutive appearances by an aggregate score of 4-1. Showing some recent struggles in the final third, Thursday’s hosts will be under a tremendous amount of pressure when they return to Villa Park in midweek.
Aston Villa Team News
Missing out against Tottenham on Sunday night with a reported muscle issue, Aston Villa are once again expected to be without ex-Everton star Amadou Onana. Likewise, Emery’s side have confirmed that Boubacar Kamara will miss the remainder of the season with a long-term knee injury.
Forced to settle for a spot on the bench at Villa Park over the weekend, leading marksman Ollie Watkins will return and lead the line. Likewise, Spanish international Pau Torres will return at the heart of Emery’s defence on Thursday night and replace former Manchester United star Victor Lindelof.
Nottingham Forest
As for the visitors, while Vitor Pereira might have made a string of alterations away at Chelsea on Monday afternoon, Nottingham Forest produced another sensational display. Cruising their way to a routine 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge, the former Wolves boss has seen his squad embark on a remarkable purple patch. All but mathematically extending on their Premier League status earlier in the week, Forest are riding a major wave of momentum. Claiming what could prove to be a crucial first-leg advantage as they secured that 1-0 win at the City Ground last week, Pereira’s high-flying squad have now won all of their last five consecutive appearances across all competitions. Likewise, 90 minutes away from punching an iconic Europa League final ticket on Thursday night, Forest are also unbeaten in their last 10 outings across all fronts.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Suffering a blow to the head after being subbed on at Stamford Bridge on Monday afternoon, Nottingham Forest are sweating over the fitness of talismanic skipper Morgan Gibbs-White. However, all settling for a spot on the bench earlier in the week, the likes of Nico Williams, Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson will be handed full recalls.
While Nigerian marksman Taiwo Awoniyi might have notched a stellar Premier League brace in west London, it is Chris Wood who will spearhead Forest’s charge here. Forest have confirmed that ex-Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi will miss the remainder of the season with a quadricep injury.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Key Factors to Consider
- When Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest met for their first-leg showdown at the City Ground last week, Thursday’s guests claimed a gritty 1-0 victory.
- Including a sensational 3-1 victory away at Chelsea on Monday afternoon, Forest have won all of their last five appearances across all competitions.
- Forest are also unbeaten in each of their previous 10 matchups across all fronts.
- Aston Villa have lost each of their last three consecutive matchups across all fronts by an aggregate score of 4-1.
- Emery’s side have registered just a single clean sheet from their seven appearances since returning from March’s international break.
Conclusion
Travelling across the Midlands on Thursday night holding what could prove to be a crucial one-goal advantage, Nottingham Forest are in the midst of a public fairytale. Laying down another marker earlier in the week as they stormed their way to an empathic 3-1 victory away at Chelsea, Pereira’s high-flying squad have now won all of their previous five consecutive appearances across all fronts. Watching Villa fail to claim an essential boost over the weekend as they were hit with a deserved 2-1 defeat at home against Spurs, Thursday’s hosts have continued to show some major cause for concern.
Verdict: Nottingham Forest to qualify
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Luckster
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