Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg at the City Ground is the biggest game for both clubs in decades: here is everything you need to know.
- João Pinheiro of Portugal takes charge. Tiago Martins is on VAR duty
- Villa have won 11 of their last 12 Europa League games heading into Thursday
- Forest are unbeaten in eight and won their last two by a combined 9-1 scoreline
The Referee: João Pinheiro in charge
Portuguese official João Pinheiro has been appointed to oversee Thursday’s historic all-Midlands Europa League semi-final.
The experienced referee has taken charge of 27 games this season producing 127 yellow cards and seven red cards across those fixtures. Tiago Martins takes the VAR seat for what promises to be one of the most scrutinised fixtures of the entire European season.
Pinheiro’s appointment of a neutral Portuguese official: from a nation not represented in the semi-finals, reflects UEFA’s standard practice for knockout stage matches of this magnitude.
Know your opponent: Nottingham Forest
Founded in 1865 by a group of shinty players, Nottingham Forest are one of the oldest professional football clubs in the world.
The Reds have called the City Ground home since 1898, a stadium set on the banks of the River Trent with a current capacity of just over 31,000 and ambitious expansion plans targeting 52,000 within a decade.
Their European pedigree is extraordinary. Forest won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough, making them one of only a handful of clubs to have lifted the trophy in consecutive seasons.
Like Villa, they have not reached a major continental final since that golden era. Thursday represents both clubs’ opportunity to change that.
The Forest manager: Vitor Pereira’s transformation
Vitor Pereira became Forest’s fourth manager of the season when he took the reins in February, replacing Sean Dyche.
The 57-year-old Porto-born coach arrived with significant Premier League experience having kept Wolves up last season.
His impact at the City Ground has been rapid and dramatic: Forest are unbeaten in eight under his guidance and have won their last two games by a combined aggregate of 9-1.
The Players to Watch at Forest. Three Key Threats
Morgan Gibbs-White is Forest’s captain and talisman: 16 goals in 49 appearances this season, including the winner against Porto in the quarter-final and a subsequent hat-trick against Brentford.
The 26-year-old has netted in each of his last three games and represents Villa’s most significant defensive challenge on Thursday.
Elliot Anderson provides energy, press-resistance, and technical quality from central midfield, the 23-year-old has made 86 appearances for Forest in less than two seasons and is a full England international.
Neco Williams, meanwhile, is a player Villa know well: the Welsh right-back scored and won Man of the Match in the 1-1 Premier League draw at the City Ground earlier this month.
Forest’s route to the semi-finals
Forest reached the last four with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Liga Portugal leaders Porto.
The first leg at the Estádio do Dragão ended 1-1 following a calamitous own goal.
The second leg at the City Ground was settled when former Villan Jan Bednarek was shown a straight red card after eight minutes, Gibbs-White converting the resulting opportunity to send Forest through.
Emery’s side arrive having won 11 of their last 12 Europa League outings: a run of form that has dismantled Lille and demolished Bologna 7-1 on aggregate.
The four-time Europa League winner has been here before. The City Ground awaits, and history is calling
