Two teams with European cups to their name face off on Thursday evening as Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie. The all-English affair kicks off at 8:00pm at The City Ground and below you can find our full match preview and best bets for the occasion.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Gibbs-White to Score Anytime | Bet365 11/4 (26.7%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Morgan Gibbs-White has been in red-hot form in recent weeks and has scored in all of his last three outings. That includes a stunning hat-trick against Burnley and a goal against Porto in the quarter-final of this competition. With 17 goals across all formats this season, 11/4 looks too big for him to continue his purple patch and find the net in this semi-final against Villa. |
| Elliot Anderson to be carded | Bet365 9/2 (18.2%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Elliot Anderson has been one of the standout performers for Nottingham Forest this season and should be on the plane to North America this summer with England. The midfielder has given away 2+ fouls in all of his last four starts across all competitions and has given away 1+ in 25 of his last 27. When it comes to cards, he’s been cautioned in four of his last nine and in ten times in total this season. |
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How both teams go into Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest head into their first European semi final since 1984 full of confidence after a dominant 5 0 Premier League win over Sunderland, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches. Under Vitor Pereira, there is renewed belief at the City Ground, with Forest also boosting their survival hopes as they sit five points clear of the relegation zone with four games left.
Their attention now turns to a huge all-English European clash, having impressed throughout the competition by progressing past Fenerbahce, Midtjylland and Porto. While they were unable to beat Aston Villa in the league this season, Forest can take encouragement from their recent home record in this fixture, going unbeaten in their last four meetings at the City Ground.
Aston Villa come into this Europa League semi-final as favourites, continuing their strong European run after reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and the Champions League quarter-finals last season. Under Unai Emery, who has quickly made his mark at the club, Villa have become one of the most dangerous sides in the competition and are chasing their first European final since their famous 1982 triumph.
Villa have impressed throughout the tournament, finishing near the top of the league phase and progressing comfortably through the knockout rounds, while also ranking among the top scorers. Despite a recent setback in the Premier League, their focus now shifts back to Europe, where they will be aiming to take a big step towards the final with a strong first-leg performance.
Nottingham Forest team news
Nottingham Forest have several injury concerns ahead of this clash, with multiple players ruled out and a few doubts, including Jair Cunha. Changes could be made at the back and in goal, while Morgan Gibbs White remains a key threat in attack after scoring five goals in his last three games, likely supporting a front pairing of Chris Wood and Igor Jesus, who is among the top scorers in the Europa League this season.
Aston Villa team news
Aston Villa also have a few injury concerns, with Boubacar Kamara and Alysson unavailable and Amadou Onana a doubt. Unai Emery may need to adjust his midfield options, while Ollie Watkins is set to lead the attack after scoring regularly in Europe, supported by Morgan Rogers, John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia, with potential changes also expected in defence.
Head-to-Head
Last 6 Meetings
Aston Villa have dominated the recent head-to-head, winning four of the last six meetings, with Forest managing just a single victory in that stretch.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 12/04/26 | Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa | League |
| 03/01/26 | Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest | League |
| 05/04/25 | Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest | League |
| 14/12/24 | Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa | League |
| 24/02/24 | Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest | League |
Conclusion
Forest have improved in recent weeks and predicting the result of this first leg tie looks a little tricky. Instead, we like the look of two player-based bets, which the first of those being Morgan Gibbs-White to find the net at 11/4. While for those looking for something a bit bigger, Elliot Anderson to be carded stands out at 9/2.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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