Unai Emery is expected to make two changes for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg at Nottingham Forest.
- Sancho is set to replace Buendia after the Argentine failed to impress at Craven Cottage
- Maatsen could come in at left-back ahead of Digne following Saturday’s defeat at Fulham
- Barkley is ineligible: he was not registered for Villa’s Europa League squad this season
Sancho returns while Buendia makes way
The most significant selection decision heading into Thursday concerns the wide attacking positions.
Emiliano Buendia started at Craven Cottage but failed to make any meaningful impact during a laboured Villa performance.
Jadon Sancho, recently returned from his shoulder injury, is expected to come back into the starting eleven at the City Ground.
The 26-year-old’s profile suits the demands of a European semi-final particularly well.
His 84.5% pass success rate, 21 chances created, and two assists from 787 Premier League minutes this season reflect a player whose greatest contribution comes through combination play and creative intelligence rather than direct running.
Furthermore, John McGinn’s outstanding five-chance-creating display at Fulham, two more than any Villa player has managed in an away game this season, underlines a creative imbalance that Sancho’s introduction could specifically address.
Maatsen over Digne. A fresh option at left-back
The second anticipated change concerns the left-back position.
Lucas Digne started at Craven Cottage but struggled to provide the overlapping threat and defensive solidity that Emery’s system demands.
Ian Maatsen is expected to come in, offering greater dynamism and the ability to combine effectively with Sancho on the left flank.
That combination, if selected, could provide Villa with a more direct and penetrative left-side presence against a Forest backline already weakened by injury.
The Barkley problem. A registration oversight that hurts
One unavoidable absence deserves specific acknowledgement. Ross Barkley will not feature in either Europa League semi-final leg having been omitted from Villa’s Europa League squad list at the start of the campaign.
That decision, which appeared unremarkable at the time, now looks like a costly oversight given the midfielder’s subsequent contributions in the Premier League.
| Barkley PL 2025-26 | Stat |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 |
| Starts | 4 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Chances Created | 7 |
| Defensive Contributions | 57 |
| Duels Won | 40 |
The 32-year-old started in Villa’s 1-1 Premier League draw at the City Ground earlier this month, delivering a 92% pass accuracy, six defensive actions, and six duel wins across 77 minutes.
His absence from Thursday’s squad leaves a genuine hole in Emery’s midfield options at a moment when depth matters enormously.
Predicted Aston Villa XI
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
One win from eight away games is a record that simply cannot continue at this level. The City Ground awaits. The biggest night of Villa’s season is here
