Preview: Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest prediction, odds, where to watch, time | UEFA Europa League 2025-26 semi-final second leg
The Villans have never lost to the Garibaldis in their last seven meetings at Villa Park.
Aston Villa are now going to lock horns with Nottingham Forest for their second-leg semifinal fixture of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League. These sides are going to come up with an intense clash, which is scheduled to take place at Villa Park.
The Unai Emery-led side have underperformed in their last three matches. They have faced back-to-back losses, making the upcoming contest a tough one for them despite being at home.
The Villans are down by a goal heading into the home leg. But they do have a chance to make a comeback and secure a win. Being at home will surely be one of their advantages. Aston Villa have capable players in the squad and will be eager to return to winning ways here.
The Tricky Trees are on a brilliant run of form at the moment. They have secured consecutive wins in their last five games.
Vitor Pereira’s men are coming in after securing a dominating 3-1 win against Chelsea in their Premier League contest. They have shown some good performances in their away games and are going to be confident for their next one too. Nottingham Forest have a one-goal advantage over the Villans.
Kick-off:
- Location: Birmingham, UK
- Stadium: Villa Park
- Date: Friday, May 8
- Kick-off Time: 12:30 AM IST (Thursday, May 7; 07:00 PM GMT/ 02:00 PM ET/ 11:00 AM PT)
- Referee: TBA
- VAR: In use
Form:
Aston Villa: W-W-L-L-L
Nottingham: W-W-W-W-W
Players to Watch
Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa)
From controlling the midfield to scoring goals, the 29-year-old is going to play a crucial part in the squad for Aston Villa. He was the sole goal scorer for the Villans in their 1-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Emilian Buendia has six goal contributions in 13 appearances of the UEFA Europa League this season.
Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest)
Igor Jesus is going to play an important role in the final third for Nottingham Forest. He is in decent form and will be eager to engrave his name on the scoresheet in the upcoming fixture. In the ongoing European competition, the 25-year-old has scored 7 goals and recorded 2 assists in 12 matches.
Match Facts
- Aston Villa are on a three-match losing run.
- Nottingham Forest are undefeated in their last 10 matches.
- The Garibaldis have failed to secure a win against the Villans in their last seven outings at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham: Betting Tips and Odds
- Aston Villa to win @3/4 William Hill
- Ollie Wakins to score @8/5 Virgin Bet
- Goals over 3.5 @49/20 BetMGM
Injury and Team News
Bounacar Kamara is not going to be in action for Aston Villa. He is injured and might return in June 2026. Amadou Onana, Alysson Edward and John McGinn are not yet confirmed to be part of the squad.
Nottingham Forest will miss out on the services of Morgan Gibbs-White, Zach Abbott, John Victor, Nicolo Savona, Willy Boly and Callum Hudson-Odoi due to their injuries. Dan Ndoye, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo might have to sit out due to their fitness issues.
Head-to-Head
Total matches: 137
Villa won: 64
Forest won: 41
Draws: 32
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Martínez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; Sancho, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Nottingham Forest predicted lineup (4-4-2)
Sels (GK); Moreira, Milenkovic, Cunha, Williams; Hutchinson, Dominguez, Anderson, McAtee; Jesus, Wood
Match Prediction
Aston Villa will be confident at Villa Park due to their past few results against the Tricky Trees. The visiting side, Nottingham Forest, will be coming in with a strong challenge.
The Villans might outclass the Garibaldis in their upcoming Europa League outing.
Prediction: Villa 3-1 Nottingham (3-2)
Telecast Details
India: SonyLIV, Sony Sports Network
UK: TNT Sports
US: Paramount+, TUDN
Middle East/North Africa: beIN Sports
When and where is Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Europa League semifinal?
Thursday, May 07, 2026, at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. GMT.
Where and how to watch Europa League live in India?
Sony Liv and Sony Sports Network will come up with the live streaming of all matches.
Where and how to watch Europa League live in UK?
TNT Sports will stream all the games for the fans in the United Kingdom.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.
Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.