Forest arrives with massive momentum after a gritty 2-1 aggregate victory over FC Porto in the quarter-finals. Under Vítor Pereira, the Garibaldi have transformed their home turf into a fortress, and with their storied European history, the fans are dreaming of another final.

On the other side, Unai Emery's Aston Villa are the clear tournament favorites. The Villans dismantled Bologna 7-1 on aggregate to reach this stage, showcasing a ruthless attacking efficiency. While Villa suffered a minor domestic setback recently, their "King of the Europa League" manager knows exactly how to navigate these two-legged ties. This fixture marks the first of two legs to decide who heads to the final in Istanbul.

Match Details

• Tournament: UEFA Europa League 2025-26 (Semi-Final, 1st Leg)

• Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026 (Friday, May 1, 12:30 AM IST)

• Venue: City Ground, Nottingham

• Where to Watch: TNT Sports (UK), Paramount+ (USA), SonyLIV (India)

Predicted Lineups

• Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Igor Jesus.

• Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.

Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa