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Aston Villa must overturn a one-goal deficit against Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final at Villa Park on Thursday night if they are to reach a European final for the first time since winning the Intertoto Cup in 2001/02.
The Villans lost the first leg 1-0 at the City Ground, part of a three-game losing streak in all competitions that will have dented their confidence heading into the second leg.
Meanwhile, Forest are flying with five straight wins across all competitions, capped off by an impressive 3-1 victory at Chelsea in the Premier League with what was a heavily-rotated side.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our expert Europa League predictions!
Contents
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest key stats
- Villa have lost their last three matches in all competitions.
- Forest are unbeaten in 10 games across all competitions (W7, D3).
- Villa have won the previous four H2Hs on home soil.
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest preview: Tricky Trees to trickle into final?
| Villa | vs | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | Position | 16th |
| 58 | Points | 42 |
| 48 | Goals For | 44 |
| 44 | Goals Against | 46 |
| 9 | Clean Sheets | 9 |
| 4th | Home Rank | 17th |
| 10th | Away Rank | 7th |
Villa paid the price for heavily rotating on the weekend as they lost 2-1 at home to Tottenham in the Premier League.
The game came after their Europa League first leg, and the likes of Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins left on the bench.
Given they are a goal down heading into the second leg, the Villans will be expected to field a much stronger team, although the likes of Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana could miss out through injury.
Nonetheless, Unai Emery is a master in this competition having won it more than any other manager, and he will try to find a way to get through to another Europa League final.
A trip to Villa Park may have been seen as daunting for Forest earlier this season, but in such great form, they will fancy their chances of getting a positive result.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Vitor Pereira has really got a tune out of his squad, shown by leaving a lot of star names including Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson on the bench against Chelsea, but still managing to win at Stamford Bridge.
However, the former was forced off shortly after coming on with concussion, and so is a doubt for this match, while two key defenders in Ola Aina and Murillo could also still be sidelined.
Nonetheless, the Tricky Trees have shown the strength in depth of their squad, and will be determined to reach a first European final since 1980 - where they famously won the European Cup but lost both in the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup.
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest form guide & betting tips
| Villa | vs | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-L-L-L | Form | W-W-W-W-W |
| 9 | Goals For | 14 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 2 |
| W-W-L | Europa League form | D-W-W |
Whispers predicts: Aston Villa 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Villa are 4/5 favourites to win, but given both teams' contrasting forms, we fancy Forest to get a positive result and make the final.
Double chance - Draw/Forest at 23/20 therefore appeals to us as an opening bet.
With Villa having to go for it though and with both sides' matches seeing both teams score last time out, BTTS - Yes at 10/11 is our next pick.
In what could be an exciting encounter between two Premier League teams desperate to reach the final, and with plenty of goals shared out in their last five matches each across all competitions, Over 3.5 goals at 13/5 is our final punt.
Overall, we are predicting a 2-2 draw after normal time, which can be backed at 16/1.
> BTTS - Yes at 10/11 | Likelihood: Probable
> Double chance - Draw/Forest at 23/20 | Likelihood: Possible
> Over 3.5 goals at 13/5 | Likelihood: Outsider