- Unai Emery has made six changes to the side that faced Tottenham
- Victor Lindelöf starts in midfield
- Vítor Pereira makes six changes
- Morgan Gibbs-White drops to the bench
Unai Emery has made a huge decision as Victor Lindelöf replaces the injured Amadou Onana. He is one of six changes to Aston Villa’s starting XI. The key news from the Nottingham Forest camp, is Morgan Gibbs-White drops to the bench, after the head injury he sustained against Chelsea.
Key players return to the starting XI for Aston Villa’s biggest game of the season so far. Unai Emery’s side head into the semi-final second leg trailing 1-0 after Chris Wood’s penalty settled the first meeting, but a roaring Villa Park crowd will be hoping to inspire a comeback tonight.
The staple back four and a big decision in midfield
As expected, Emery has decided to select his tried and trusted back four. Matty Cash remains at right-back with Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres coming in for Tyrone Mings and Lamare Bogarde.
Lucas Digne completes the defence, replacing Ian Maatsen, who won 1/10 ground duels in the game against Tottenham.
The surprising decision comes in midfield, where Victor Lindelöf is chosen as the replacement for Amadou Onana. It is the Swede’s first start in the middle of the park, having only made a couple of substitute appearances earlier in the season.
Heading into the match, it has been reported that he has trained all week in midfield in preparation for tonight’s fixture.
Buendía to start in the No 10
In attack, Emi Buendía starts in the No 10, with Morgan Rogers on the left. As they are both versatile, we could see them rotate during the match, providing Villa with some fluidity that will be crucial to break down a resilient Forest defence.
Elsewhere, the captain John McGinn returns from injury, operating on the right-hand side. His energy and fight are vital to his team, and will no doubt give the crowd something to feed off of.
Finally, leading the line is Ollie Watkins. His goals have dried up in the last few games, but it only takes one chance for him to find some confidence. With the physicality of Morato and Nikola Milenkovic, the Englishman’s hold-up play will need to be at his best if Villa are to break through.
Confirmed lineups
Aston Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Lindelöf, McGinn, Buendía, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Bogarde, Maatsen, Mings, García, Luiz, Bailey, Elliott, Sancho, Abraham
Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega, Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Hutchinson, Dominguez, Andersen, McAtee, Jesus, Wood
Subs: Willows, Sels, Hanks, Murillo, Whitehall, Bakwa, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Yates, Ndoye, Sinclair, Lucca
