- Nottingham Forest have a recent advantage after winning the semi-final first leg 1-0.
- Villa have to score at least twice to avoid extra time.
Big game in Birmingham
Nottingham Forest’s stunning run to their first European semi-final in nearly three decades takes a backseat on Thursday to the possibility of the Tricky Trees making history by landing the UEFA Europa League in Istanbul next May and the potential prize of Champions League soccer that comes with the trophy.
But Forest will have to do it the hard way, following the single penalty kick which decided their first-leg matchup at the City Ground. The Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest prediction is that the Villans have it all to do in this second-leg matchup, but the odds makers make them very clear favorites to win on the night at 1.87, with Forest listed at 4.52 and the draw at 3.86.
Aston Villa have had a curious run of form in recent months with two high-scoring wins being followed by three straight defeats in all competitions. The Villans are still in fifth place in the Premier League on 58 points from 35 games while Forest are 16th on 39 from 34, but this Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest preview is where it counts.
Villa to make their presence felt
Unai Emery is a proven European specialist with multiple Europa League titles to his name and Villa will surely come out to win this second-leg. This Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest prediction suggests they should control the game with their passing and build-up play, while Forest will try to defend their slender lead and hit on the break.
Villa’s midfield balance depends largely on the fitness of Amadou Onana. Lamare Bogarde has come into the team and done well, but Onana’s ability to dictate the pace and create chances could be a big factor in determining this tie.
Forest have looked much more solid since Vítor Pereira’s appointment in February and he has got them playing a pragmatic 4-2-3-1 that gets the ball wide quickly and creates 1v1 situations. Pereira has turned Igor Jesus into a real outlet in Europe, especially on the counter-attack, which should suit the second-leg scenario. Chris Wood offers a threat from set-piece situations and is a good penalty kick taker after hitting the crucial spot kick in the first-leg.
Tense affair likely, but Forest can nick it
Forest travel to Birmingham with the momentum after their 1-0 win and the fact that they have won three in a row coming into this game. Our Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest prediction focuses on Morgan Gibbs-White as their form player after netting a hat-trick in the Premier League and scoring the winner against Porto in the previous round. Ollie Watkins is Villa’s talisman, proving to be their reliable source of goals, including crucial strikes in the quarter-finals.
Villa have the better of Forest in the head-to-head record over the past few decades. Emery’s side should have the quality to edge the tie, but Forest’s form makes them a threat to avoid an immediate loss with their counter-attacking style and Villa’s need to push forward.
Both Teams to Score - Yes is worth considering here at 1.85, but our main selection is Forest Double Chance because of the momentum Pereira’s men have built up in the past few weeks. The Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest betting tips support that they have come through some big European matches and should be able to remain compact enough to hold their visitors at bay in a tight draw with extra time on the cards. A 1-1 correct score looks best here, although Villa can edge it by a goal or two if they are at their best and Villa to beat Forest 2-1 is the second-leg score selection, with 2-0 available as a smaller stakes play.
