Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa at the City Ground on April 30, 2026, in the first leg of an all-English UEFA Europa League semi-final. The tie carries enormous significance for both clubs. Forest are appearing in their first major European semi-final since 1984, while Aston Villa are attempting to reach their first major continental final since winning the European Cup in 1982.
The winner will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on May 20. Forest enter the match 16th in the Premier League with 39 points, but their recent form has improved dramatically under Vítor Pereira. Aston Villa sit fifth with 58 points and remain firmly involved in the race for Champions League qualification. The teams know each other well, having drawn 1-1 at the City Ground earlier in April. However, Villa hold the stronger record across the previous 10 competitive meetings.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa: Last 10 Matches
Across the 10 competitive meetings immediately before April 30, 2026, the record stands at:
Aston Villa wins: 5
Nottingham Forest wins: 2
Draws: 3
Aston Villa goals: 22
Nottingham Forest goals: 16
Total goals: 38
Average goals per match: 3.8
The previous 10 meetings were:
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa — April 12, 2026
Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest — January 3, 2026
Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest — April 5, 2025
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa — December 14, 2024
Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest — February 24, 2024
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Aston Villa — November 5, 2023
Aston Villa 2-0 Nottingham Forest — April 8, 2023
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa — October 10, 2022
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Aston Villa — March 13, 2019
Aston Villa 5-5 Nottingham Forest — November 28, 2018
Villa therefore have the better recent record, although Forest have won two of the previous five meetings and avoided defeat in the latest encounter. The 38 goals across those 10 games also show that this fixture has often been more open than the original low-scoring narrative might suggest.
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The Most Recent Meeting Ended 1-1
The clubs last met at the City Ground on April 12, just 18 days before the Europa League semi-final. Villa went ahead through a Murillo own goal, but Neco Williams equalised for Forest. Villa created several opportunities to win the game but failed to convert them, leaving Pereira satisfied with an important point in Forest's battle against relegation.
The result extended Forest's unbeaten sequence at the time and showed that Pereira's team could compete effectively with Villa. That recent familiarity could make the opening stages of the European tie more tactical, with both managers already having a clear understanding of the opposition's strengths.
Forest Enter the Semi-Final Eight Games Unbeaten
Nottingham Forest arrive in excellent form. They are unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions and produced their most emphatic result of the season immediately before this semi-final, defeating Sunderland 5-0 away from home. Their Premier League position remains dangerous, but Pereira's arrival has brought renewed confidence.
Forest have become more aggressive in attack while retaining enough defensive organisation to compete in close games. Their recent improvement has pushed them further away from the relegation zone while simultaneously carrying them deep into Europe. That momentum makes the City Ground a difficult venue for Villa despite the visitors' stronger league position.
Forest Eliminated Porto to Reach the Semi-Finals
Forest reached the last four by defeating Porto 2-1 on aggregate. After drawing 1-1 in Portugal, Forest won the second leg 1-0 at the City Ground through an early Morgan Gibbs-White goal. Porto played most of the match with 10 men after Jan Bednarek was sent off in the eighth minute.
Forest had previously overcome Fenerbahçe and Midtjylland during the knockout rounds, making their first European campaign in decades increasingly memorable. The City Ground atmosphere has become a major part of that run, and Pereira will hope to take advantage to Villa Park for the second leg on May 7.
Morgan Gibbs-White Is Driving Forest's Revival
Morgan Gibbs-White has become one of Forest's most important players during their late-season resurgence. He scored the decisive goal against Porto and has also been central to Forest's improved Premier League form. By late April, no Premier League player had scored more goals during the calendar year than Gibbs-White's 10.
His movement between midfield and attack is particularly important against Villa. Gibbs-White can receive possession behind Villa's midfield line, carry the ball into space and release Forest's forwards quickly. With Villa likely to control periods of possession, those transition moments could provide Forest with their best opportunities.
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Igor Jesus Has Excelled in Europe
Igor Jesus has been one of the standout performers in the Europa League this season. The Brazilian entered the closing stages of the competition among the tournament's leading scorers after producing goals against Porto, Utrecht, Ferencváros and Fenerbahçe during Forest's European run. His European form has been considerably stronger than his Premier League scoring record.
Against Villa, his movement could be particularly useful if Forest defend compactly before attacking quickly. Pereira also has Chris Wood available again after a lengthy injury layoff, giving Forest the option of using a more physical two-forward system when required. Wood's return has allowed Forest to move between a 4-2-3-1 and a more traditional 4-4-2.
Forest's Tactical Approach
Under Pereira, Forest have become more flexible. They can defend in a compact block and counter quickly, but their recent performances have also shown a willingness to press higher and attack with greater numbers.
Against Villa, Forest are likely to focus on:
keeping central areas compact;
releasing Gibbs-White quickly after turnovers;
using Igor Jesus and Wood as direct outlets;
attacking spaces behind Villa's advanced full-backs;
creating pressure from set pieces;
using the City Ground atmosphere to start aggressively.
The challenge will be avoiding unnecessary risks. Villa possess enough technical quality to punish Forest if their defensive structure becomes stretched.
Forest Have Significant Defensive Injuries
Pereira enters the semi-final with several important fitness concerns. Murillo is unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in April. Pereira confirmed on April 29 that the Brazilian was not ready for the first leg. His likely replacement, Jair Cunha, is also a major doubt after picking up an injury against Sunderland. The Forest medical staff were still working to make him available, but Pereira admitted his participation was uncertain.
Ibrahim Sangaré and Dan Ndoye also trained away from the main group before the match and remained fitness doubts. The most definite attacking absence is Callum Hudson-Odoi, who underwent surgery on a right quadriceps injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Those absences could force Pereira to alter both his defensive pairing and attacking width.
Aston Villa Arrive After a League Setback
Villa's preparation has been less convincing. Their most recent match ended in a 1-0 defeat away to Fulham on April 25, leaving them fifth in the Premier League with 58 points. Their away league form has also become a concern. Villa have won only once in their previous eight Premier League away matches.
However, European competition has been a different story. Unai Emery's side have looked increasingly comfortable in the Europa League knockout rounds and arrive with the experience of a manager who has won this competition four times.
Villa Demolished Bologna in the Quarter-Finals
Villa's quarter-final performance sent a warning to the rest of the competition. They won 3-1 away to Bologna in the first leg before producing a dominant 4-0 victory at Villa Park, progressing 7-1 on aggregate. Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Buendía, Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa all scored in the second leg.
That performance showed the attacking variety available to Emery. Villa can create through patient possession, direct attacks, wide combinations or quick transitions, making them difficult to contain over two legs.
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Unai Emery's Europa League Record Matters
Few managers understand this competition better than Emery. He has won the Europa League four times, lifting it three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. That experience gives Villa an important advantage in a two-legged semi-final.
Emery is comfortable adjusting his approach depending on the state of a tie. Villa do not necessarily need to dominate the first leg if they can return to Villa Park with the contest under control. However, Emery has also stressed that he views the semi-final as a 50-50 matchup because of Forest's form and European history.
Ollie Watkins Remains Villa's Main Goal Threat
Ollie Watkins enters the semi-final in strong European form. His goal against Bologna was his 100th for Aston Villa and took him to a club-record 10 goals in European competition. His movement behind defenders will be particularly dangerous against a Forest back line potentially missing Murillo and Cunha.
Watkins can threaten the space behind the defence, move into wider channels and create openings for Rogers, Buendía and John McGinn. Forest therefore need to prevent Villa's midfielders from having enough time to pick passes into his runs.
Morgan Rogers Gives Villa Another Creative Threat
Morgan Rogers is another player Forest know well from the recent league meeting. He combines physical strength with the ability to carry possession through midfield and create from central attacking areas.
Villa's likely attacking structure could feature Rogers alongside McGinn and Buendía behind Watkins, with Youri Tielemans helping control midfield. UEFA's April 29 preview listed that group among Villa's possible starters. Rogers can become especially dangerous when Forest's midfield is drawn towards Watkins or Villa's wide players.
Villa's Tactical Approach
Emery's Villa generally operate from a flexible 4-2-3-1, although their shape can change significantly during possession. The visitors will look to control the ball, draw Forest forward and create spaces between the defensive lines.
Villa should look to:
use Tielemans to dictate possession;
involve Rogers between midfield and defence;
release Watkins behind Forest's back line;
use Matty Cash and Lucas Digne to create width;
press Forest's first pass after turnovers;
avoid allowing Gibbs-White to lead counter-attacks.
Their high defensive line can also become a vulnerability. If Forest escape Villa's press, Igor Jesus and Wood may find opportunities in the space behind.
Boubacar Kamara Is Out
Villa will be without Boubacar Kamara, who remains a long-term injury absentee following the serious knee problem he suffered in January. His absence affects Villa's midfield balance.
Kamara is particularly useful defensively because of his positioning and ability to break up counter-attacks before they develop. Without him, Emery may rely more heavily on Tielemans and Lamare Bogarde in deeper midfield roles. That could become important against Forest's transition game.
Amadou Onana Is a Doubt
There is also uncertainty surrounding Amadou Onana. The Belgium midfielder missed Villa's 1-0 defeat to Fulham with a knee problem and remained a late fitness question on April 29. Emery said Villa would assess his response in training before making a decision.
If Onana is unavailable alongside Kamara, Villa lose considerable physical strength in central midfield. That would place more responsibility on Tielemans and Villa's other midfielders to control second balls and prevent Forest from countering.
The Midfield Battle Could Decide the First Leg
This may be the most important tactical area. Forest want Gibbs-White and their forwards to attack quickly after possession changes hands. Villa want to control those transitions before they begin.
If Tielemans and Villa's midfield can dominate possession and keep Forest pinned back, the visitors have enough attacking talent to create chances. If Forest can disrupt Villa centrally, the match could quickly become more open. The possible absence of Onana and the confirmed absence of Kamara could make that battle even more significant.
The City Ground Could Be a Major Factor
Forest have already demonstrated how important home advantage can be in Europe. Their quarter-final victory over Porto came at the City Ground, and Pereira's team enter the semi-final unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions. The occasion itself will also be historic.
This is Forest's first major European semi-final in more than four decades, and the first all-Midlands tie in UEFA competition. A strong opening spell could give the home crowd even more influence. Villa's task will be to remain composed if Forest begin aggressively rather than allowing the atmosphere to dictate the tempo.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa: Who Has the Advantage?
Aston Villa enter the tie with the stronger overall squad, better league position and greater recent experience in European knockout football. They have also won five of the previous 10 meetings with Forest and eliminated Bologna 7-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
But Forest's current momentum makes the first leg difficult to predict. Pereira's side are unbeaten in eight matches, have just won 5-0 at Sunderland and already held Villa to a 1-1 draw at the City Ground earlier in April. Forest's injuries, particularly in central defence, are a serious concern.
Villa have midfield problems of their own, with Kamara unavailable and Onana doubtful. That could produce a first leg where neither manager wants to lose control of the tie too early. Forest should benefit from the City Ground atmosphere and their recent confidence, while Villa have the attacking quality and European experience to punish mistakes.
With the second leg still to come at Villa Park, a tightly contested first encounter looks likely. For Nottingham Forest, victory would move them closer to their first major European final since the club's historic era under Brian Clough. For Aston Villa, a positive result would keep Emery's side on course for another European final and the possibility of the club's first major trophy in three decades.