Aston Villa travel to the City Ground on Thursday for the Europa League semi-final first leg. Here is everything you need to know.
- Kick-off is at 9pm CET — live on TNT Sports in the UK, Paramount+, DAZN and TUDN in the USA
- This is the first ever all-Midlands UEFA tie in European football history
- Both clubs are former European champions — Forest in 1979 and 1980, Villa in 1982
- Emery has won the Europa League a record four times — three with Sevilla and once with Villarreal
When, Where and How to watch
Thursday 30 April’s first leg takes place at the City Ground in Nottingham, with kick-off at 9pm CET — 8pm GMT for UK supporters. The second leg follows at Villa Park on Thursday 7 May at the same time. The winners face either Braga or SC Freiburg in the Istanbul final.
In the United Kingdom, the fixture is live on TNT Sports and available to stream via Discovery+. US supporters can watch on Paramount+, DAZN, and TUDN. Villa supporters without television access can follow live updates through the official club app and website.
Historic Context: a first for the Midlands
Thursday’s tie carries a remarkable historical footnote. This is the first ever all-Midlands UEFA tie in the history of European football with the City Ground and Villa Park separated by just 50 miles.
The most recent all-English ties in this competition were both finals: Tottenham’s 2025 triumph against Manchester United and Chelsea’s 2019 victory over Arsenal.
The only previous all-English semi-final was Liverpool’s 1972-73 UEFA Cup tie against Tottenham, won by the Reds on away goals.
Both clubs are former European champions with deep continental pedigree. Forest lifted back-to-back European Cups under Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980.
Villa claimed their own glory under Tony Barton in 1982. Neither has reached a major continental final since making Thursday’s tie one of enormous historical significance for both sets of supporters.
Team News and predicted lineups
Forest face significant defensive uncertainty ahead of the first leg. Jair Cunha and Murillo are both doubts through injury, while Callum Hudson-Odoi has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Morato is expected to partner Nikola Milenković at centre-back in what could be a makeshift defensive unit.
Villa’s own injury picture is similarly complex. Amadou Onana’s availability remains uncertain [LINK]. Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley are both definitely absent. Emery faces a genuine tactical puzzle in defensive midfield, with Lamare Bogarde the most likely candidate to fill the role.
Predicted Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega; Aina, Milenković, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Sangaré; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Igor Jesus.
Predicted Aston Villa XI: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Views from both camps
Emery was characteristically enthusiastic when addressing the occasion. “European competition is very important to us and it’s given me so much in my career as a coach,” the 53-year-old stated. “Forest have a history in Europe as well, because they won the European Cup like Aston Villa, so it is something special for us and for them. We are going to enjoy the semi-final.“
Forest boss Vitor Pereira was equally respectful but quietly confident. “Villa are a strong team: they are a Champions League team,” the Portuguese manager acknowledged. “But we will be ready for them when the time comes.” Defender Neco Williams added: “We have confidence and belief and will go into those games with the aim to win.”
The Key Numbers
Villa have won 64 of their 136 meetings with Forest all-time, compared to 40 victories for the East Midlands club and 32 draws.
The sides drew 1-1 at the City Ground in the Premier League earlier this month. Furthermore, Forest have not won at Villa Park in ten attempts since October 1994, a run of three draws and seven defeats that Pereira will be desperately hoping to end across the two legs.
Two former European champions. One historic all-Midlands semi-final. Forty-four years of waiting for a continental final.
Thursday night at the City Ground could be the beginning of something truly unforgettable.
