The all-Premier League battle in the Europa League semi-finals concludes on Thursday evening.
Nottingham Forest are taking a slender 1-0 lead to the home of Aston Villa, with the eventual winner taking on either Freiburg or Braga in the 2025-26 final.
The pressure is on both Unai Emery and Vitor Pereira, setting us up for a mouth-watering clash in Birmingham.
Check out our full sports betting preview for this huge all-English semi-final second leg, and we have picked out some more tips based on NetBet’s latest Europa League odds.
And if you wish to include this match in a midweek combo, remember that our Acca Boost feature can increase your potential winnings by up to 50%.
Where can I watch Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest in the UK?
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Preview
Recent results
After the aforementioned defeat at the City Ground, Villa were beaten 2-1 by relegation-threatened Tottenham last Sunday – their third consecutive loss following the 1-0 failure at Fulham. But Emery’s men have been strong at home in the Europa League knockout stage, with two convincing wins recorded over Lille (2-0) and Bologna (4-0).
Forest continued their incredible run on the weekend, claiming a 3-1 success at struggling Chelsea with a second-string XI. The Tricky Trees are all but safe in terms of Premier League relegation, and are unbeaten in the last 10 matches across all competitions – a run which includes a 2-1 win at FC Midtjylland and a credible 1-1 draw at Porto.
Head-to-head record
Villa have a fantastic recent home record vs Forest. The Villans have won each of the last four meetings at Villa Park by an aggregate score of 11-4, claiming a 3-1 victory back on January 3.
Team news
Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Alysson Santos are all out for Villa, leaving Emery with a bit of a selection issue in midfield. However, captain John McGinn is pushing to be available, which would be a huge boost for the hosts.
Morgan Gibbs-White suffered a nasty facial injury in the win over Chelsea, but avoided concussion, so could still feature for Forest here. Callum Hudson-Odoi, John Victor and Nicolo Savona are longer-term absentees, while Ibrahim Sangare, Murillo, Dan Ndoye and Ola Aina are all doubtful.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Aston Villa are the big favourites to win this second leg at a price of 1.70. A victory for Nottingham Forest is at odds of 4.30, while the draw here is 3.75.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips
To qualify – Nottingham Forest @ 1.73
Forest are riding the crest of a wave right now, having recorded five consecutive wins across all competitions. The Tricky Trees have also won three of the last four on the road, scoring 12 goals in that run and conceding only two. Villa, of course, have the firepower to turn this tie on its head, but three consecutive defeats must surely have damaged the confidence levels in the camp.
Draw no bet – Nottingham Forest @ 3.30
And if the above stats, which paint Forest in a very positive light, really catch the eye, then this may be a market to pursue – as the odds on offer are far better. Even with a slightly worse-looking injury list, the Tricky Trees are the form team of the two and look primed to record a positive result.
Player to score or assist – Igor Jesus @ 3.50
Jesus is one Europe’s most in-form strikers, so the price on offer within this market could represent exceptional pre-match value. The Brazilian forward scored from the penalty spot in the win at Chelsea, taking him to five goal contributions in his last five Premier League appearances. Furthermore, Jesus has eight involvements in this competition, another reason why this could be an outstanding pick.
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