UEFA Europa League Semi-finals
Aston Villa 4 - 0 FT Nottingham Forest
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Morato 18'
36' O. Watkins (E. Buendia)
Cunha 45'+3
HT
↓ J. McAtee ↑R. Yates 46'
57' E. Buendia
↓ Morato ↑D. Bakwa 71'
↓ C. Wood ↑L. Lucca 71'
74' ↓ V. Lindelof ↑L. Bogarde
77' J. McGinn (O. Watkins)
80' J. McGinn (M. Rogers)
86' ↓ E. Buendia ↑J. Sancho
↓ Cunha ↑Murillo 88'
↓ O. Hutchinson ↑J. Sinclair 88'
90' ↓ J. McGinn ↑L. Bailey
90' ↓ M. Rogers ↑Douglas Luiz
90' ↓ P. Torres ↑T. Mings
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martínez 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Matty Cash 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
39%
Pass Acc
Ezri Konsa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pau Torres 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
1
Pens Won
Lucas Digne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Victor Lindelöf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Youri Tielemans 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
John McGinn 
CLOSER
2
Late Goals
2
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Morgan Rogers
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Emiliano Buendía
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Ollie Watkins 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.2
Rating
BENCH
Marco Bizot 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
James Wright
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Tyrone Mings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrés García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ian Maatsen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Harvey Elliott
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Douglas Luiz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jadon Sancho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Bailey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tammy Abraham
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nottingham Forest
Goalkeepers
Stefan Ortega
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jair 
SUNDAY LEAGUER
5.7
Rating
5.7
Rating
2
Duels Lost
25
Poss Lost
Nikola Milenković 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.2
Rating
Morato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Neco Williams 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
78%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Omari Hutchinson 
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
12%
Pass Acc
6
Rating
Nicolás Domínguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Elliot Anderson 
MAGNET
66
Activity
66
Activity
55
Passes
11
Duels
James McAtee
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Igor Jesus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chris Wood
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
BENCH
Matz Sels
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Keehan Willows
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Murillo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Justin Hanks
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Yates
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
47
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahim Sangaré
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Morgan Gibbs-White
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Archie Whitehall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jimmy Sinclair
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dan Ndoye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dilane Bakwa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lorenzo Lucca
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/30/2026 | Nottingham Forest | 1 - 0 | Aston Villa | UEFA Europa League | City Ground |
| 04/12/2026 | Nottingham Forest | 1 - 1 | Aston Villa | Premier League | City Ground |
| 01/03/2026 | Aston Villa | 3 - 1 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 04/05/2025 | Aston Villa | 2 - 1 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 12/14/2024 | Nottingham Forest | 2 - 1 | Aston Villa | Premier League | The City Ground |
| 02/24/2024 | Aston Villa | 4 - 2 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 11/05/2023 | Nottingham Forest | 2 - 0 | Aston Villa | Premier League | The City Ground |
| 04/08/2023 | Aston Villa | 2 - 0 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 10/10/2022 | Nottingham Forest | 1 - 1 | Aston Villa | Premier League | The City Ground |
| 03/13/2019 | Nottingham Forest | 1 - 3 | Aston Villa | Championship | City Ground |
04/30/2026
04/12/2026
01/03/2026
04/05/2025
12/14/2024
02/24/2024
11/05/2023
04/08/2023
10/10/2022
03/13/2019
Aston Villa Win
Nottingham Forest Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Villa Overturn Deficit to Reach Final
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 66/100. Aston Villa ruthlessly dismantled Nottingham Forest to erase a first-leg deficit and emphatically punch their ticket to the Europa League final.
Erasing the Deficit
Villa Park was a cauldron of noise for this European semi-final. Aston Villa arrived trailing 1-0 after C. Wood's first-leg penalty for Nottingham Forest. The Stakes could not have been higher. Unai Emery's side immediately set about dismantling the visitors. They edged possession with 51 percent, but the real story was the attacking siege. A barrage of 18 shots rained down on the Forest goal. The pressure finally told in the 36th minute. E. Buendia picked out O. Watkins, who fired home to level the aggregate score. The hosts had wiped out the deficit before the break, completely shifting the momentum of the tie.
The Penalty Pivot
The visitors desperately needed a response, but Villa refused to relent. The Intensity of the home side's press suffocated Forest, restricting them to just five shots all night. The defining moment arrived in the 57th minute. A penalty was awarded, presenting Villa with the golden chance to take control. Buendía stepped up. The midfielder made no mistake, burying the spot-kick to make it 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate. The Balance of power had officially flipped. Forest's goalkeeper performed heroics with six saves to keep his team breathing, but the relentless waves of claret and blue attacks were simply too much to withstand.
McGinn Seals the Deal
With Forest forced to chase the game, the floodgates opened at the back. Enter J. McGinn. The Scottish international delivered a captain's performance when it mattered most. In the 77th minute, Watkins turned provider, setting up McGinn to smash home Villa's third. Just three minutes later, McGinn struck again. This time, M. Rogers provided the assist, crowning a glorious hero brace. The 4-0 victory secured a resounding 4-1 aggregate triumph. Villa's incredible run continues as they march into the Europa League final, leaving their domestic rivals to rue a devastating second-leg collapse.
Key Questions
What made Emiliano Buendía the Man of the Match?
Buendía orchestrated the comeback, providing the crucial assist for the opener before scoring the pivotal penalty to give Villa the aggregate lead.
What does this mean for Aston Villa's season?
This commanding 4-1 aggregate victory sends Aston Villa directly into the UEFA Europa League final, keeping their dreams of European silverware alive.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Everything On The Line At Villa Park
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 93/100. Aston Villa must summon a special European comeback to overturn a 1-0 deficit against a stubborn Nottingham Forest side and book their ticket to the final.
The Setup
Aston Villa's flawless home record faces the ultimate test this May 07, 2026 at Villa Park. After Chris Wood's penalty secured a 1-0 first-leg win for Forest, the hosts enter this second leg needing goals. A Stakes rating that is completely off the charts reflects what is on the line: a spot in the UEFA Europa League final. Despite the aggregate deficit, the hosts boast a fearsome Form rating, driven by a perfect European home record this season. Forest will look to protect their slender lead, bringing an incredible Balance to a tie that remains on a knife-edge.
Key Battle
Ollie Watkins vs Callum Hudson-Odoi. Watkins is the talisman Villa desperately need to break down a deep-sitting defence. On the flip side, Hudson-Odoi offers the exact counter-attacking threat Forest require to exploit spaces left by a desperate home side pushing forward. High Stars quality guarantees fireworks.
Our Prediction
Aston Villa win on the night, and in the tie. Expect relentless early pressure from the hosts to level the aggregate score. Forest will struggle to contain the onslaught, leading to a 2-0 victory for Villa to send them through to the final.