Aston Villa will face a very different tactical challenge when Nottingham Forest visit Villa Park on Saturday.
Unai Emery’s side finally found some attacking rhythm in their 3-2 Champions League victory over Club Brugge, but Forest are likely to give Villa far less space through the middle.
Oliver Glasner has introduced the 3-4-2-1 system he previously used at Crystal Palace, with two wing-backs providing the width and two attacking midfielders operating behind the striker.
Forest used that structure again in their most recent Premier League game, a 0-0 draw with Tottenham.
Nottingham Forest’s latest 3-4-2-1
Forest started against Spurs with Matz Sels in goal and a back three of Jair Cunha, Nikola Milenković and Murillo.
Ola Aina and Neco Williams operated as the wing-backs, with Xaver Schlager and James McAtee in central midfield.
Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White then played behind Liam Delap.
The full XI can be seen in the Sky Sports team sheet from Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham.
Forest managed 12 attempts in that game but only one on target, while Tottenham failed to register a shot on target themselves.
That underlines both sides of the challenge Villa face.
Forest have not been particularly dangerous in front of goal, but Glasner’s structure can make them difficult to break down.
Villa’s full-backs face an important decision
Glasner’s system gives his wing-backs licence to advance when Forest have possession before the shape can fall into a 5-4-1 without the ball.
That defensive transition has been a feature of his early Forest approach.
It creates an interesting problem for Villa.
Ian Maatsen is naturally aggressive from left-back, while either Matty Cash or Aaron Wan-Bissaka could start on the opposite side.
Villa need their full-backs high enough to pin Forest’s wing-backs into deeper positions.
However, committing both forward could also create space for Gibbs-White and Ndoye to attack after turnovers.
That makes Villa’s defensive balance particularly important.
Boubacar Kamara could be vital
Few players may be more important than Boubacar Kamara.
João Gomes is suspended for the Forest match, leaving Emery without the midfield partnership he used against Club Brugge.
Kamara may therefore have to provide much of Villa’s protection when attacks break down.
If Maatsen and the right-back are both advanced, Kamara must recognise when to remain behind the ball rather than joining another attack.
Forest’s two No.10s are specifically positioned to exploit those central and half-space areas.
Gibbs-White is the obvious danger.
Glasner’s system allows him to operate behind the striker rather than remaining fixed in one area, while Ndoye offers another runner on the opposite side.
Nicolas Jackson can stretch Forest’s back three
Villa’s best route through Forest may involve forcing their defensive line backwards.
Nicolas Jackson gave Emery that threat against Club Brugge.
The striker scored his first Villa goal in Belgium and repeatedly looked to run beyond the opposition defence.
Our Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa match report showed how much more threatening Villa looked once they attacked space rather than simply circulating possession in front of the opposition.
That movement could be especially useful against Forest.
Glasner’s system asks three centre-backs to defend large areas when the wing-backs push forward.
Jackson attacking the channels either side of Milenković could therefore give Emi Buendía and John McGinn space to arrive behind him.
George Hemmings could also play an important role if Emery keeps faith with the 19-year-old after his Champions League start.
Liam Delap provides a physical test
Forest can also bypass Villa’s press by playing directly towards Delap.
The £45million summer signing started against Tottenham and has spoken openly about the aggressive, physical side of his game.
Delap told The Guardian about his approach at Nottingham Forest that he feels most effective when playing with that edge.
That creates another important decision for Emery.
Victor Lindelöf has been a regular starter, while Pau Torres produced an excellent response after returning to the side against Club Brugge.
Whoever starts cannot allow Delap to hold the ball up comfortably and bring Gibbs-White and Ndoye into attacks around him.
Villa need to move Forest before attacking them
Forest have collected two points from their opening three Premier League matches, leaving them one place above Villa before Saturday’s fixture.
Their start has not been spectacular, but their shape gives Villa a problem they struggled with against Hull.
Slow possession will allow Forest to settle into their defensive structure.
Villa need quicker switches of play, Jackson running behind the back three and enough movement between the lines to drag Forest out of position.
Our Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest H2H guide shows Villa have not lost a home meeting with Forest since 1994.
Saturday will be less about that history and more about whether Emery’s rebuilt side can solve the tactical structure Glasner brings to Villa Park.
