- Aston Villa travel to the City Ground on Thursday 30th April for the first leg of the Europa League semi-final
- Ten players could miss the clash
- Both clubs suffered injuries in their most recent matches
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest both have injury concerns ahead of the first leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday. A total of ten players could miss the fixture.
Amadou Onana was the latest injured player for Unai Emery’s side. The Belgian was absent from Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday, with a suspected knee issue. After the game, Emery provided an update, stating he was unsure whether Onana would be available for Thursday. However, he will be monitored day-to-day.
Meanwhile, Ross Barkley and January signing, Alysson, were not included in the European squad for the knockout stages. Villa could only make three changes to their list, meaning the pair will miss the rest of the Europa League games.
The changes that prevented their additions were: Douglas Luiz for Boubacar Kamara, Tammy Abraham for Donyell Malen, and Leon Bailey for Evann Guessand.
Kamara is the Villans’ long-term absentee, having suffered a knee injury in their FA Cup game against Tottenham in January. He is ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Nottingham Forest injuries
For Nottingham Forest, they have several issues to deal with.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, John Victor, and Nicolò Savona all have injuries sidelining them for the rest of the campaign. Willy Boly is also not included in their Europa League squad.
Their biggest concern is Murillo, who has a suspected hamstring injury following their 4-1 win over Burnley in the previous weekend. He is expected to miss the game on Thursday.
Furthermore, the medical staff is assessing fellow Brazilian centre-back, Jair Cunha, after he was forced off in the 50th minute during their 5-0 hammering of Sunderland.The 21-year-old appeared to be in some pain, clutching his arm.
This double blow will likely see Morato fill in alongside Nikola Milenkovic, as he replaced Cunha when he was substituted on Friday night.
Vítor Pereira could also call upon 19-year-old Zach Abbott, who has already featured in some of their Europa League fixtures this season.
Suspensions
Both teams have had their yellow cards wiped for the semi-final. This is to ensure that no player can receive a suspension for the final through the accumulation of yellow cards.
Officials reset them after the quarter-final.
With both squads facing injuries, the first-leg on Thursday has become a true test of depth and tactical adaptability. Emery may have to navigate the loss of another key midfielder in Onana, while Pereira faces a defensive crisis. These absences place immense pressure on squad players to perform on the biggest stage.
An all-English tie means this match will be intense, hostile, and full of action as both clubs aim to make some history.
