Aston Villa welcome Nottingham Forest to Villa Park for the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday, May 7, 2026 (kick-off 21:00 CET / 20:00 BST / approx. 12:30 AM IST). Unai Emery’s side trail 0-1 from the first leg and must produce a strong performance in front of their passionate home crowd to reach the final in Istanbul.
First Leg Summary:
Nottingham Forest secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the semi-final first leg at the City Ground on April 30, 2026. Chris Wood converted a second-half penalty in the 71st minute to hand the visitors a crucial lead. Despite controlling much of the possession, Villa failed to break down Forest’s well-organized defense. The result puts significant pressure on the Premier League side, who now need to overturn the deficit without conceding at home.
Where to Watch:
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK, Paramount+ in the US, and SonyLIV streaming platform for fans in India. Fans should check local listings for exact channel and streaming details.
Predicted Lineups:
Aston Villa (possible 4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.
Captain John McGinn is expected to return, though midfield remains stretched with Onana unavailable.
Nottingham Forest (possible 4-2-3-1): Ortega; Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Hutchinson, Domínguez; Anderson, Gibbs-White, Jesus; Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White could feature with a protective mask. Forest will look to sit deep and counter-attack.
Score Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
(2-2 aggregate – extra time or penalties likely). Villa’s excellent home European record makes them favorites, but Forest’s discipline could force a tense decider. Villa Park is set to be rocking for a memorable night