Nottingham Forest holds a precarious 1-0 aggregate lead heading into the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semifinal clash against Aston Villa. The crucial match, scheduled for today, May 7, 2026, will determine which of the Premier League sides advances to the final. Kick-off is set for 20:00 BST at Villa Park, with live coverage available across major sports networks.
Team Lineups Revealed
Aston Villa is set to field Martinez in goal, with Cash, Konsa, Torres, and Digne forming the defense. The midfield comprises Tielemans, Lindelof, and McGinn, supported by Rogers and Buendia, with Watkins leading the attack.
Nottingham Forest's starting eleven features Ortega between the posts, protected by Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, and Williams in defense. Dominguez, Anderson, and McAtee are in midfield, with Jesus, Hutchinson, and Wood in forward positions.
Substitutions available for Villa include Bizot, Wright, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, and Bailey. Forest can call upon Sels, Williows, Murillo, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Lucca, Yates, Bakwa, Whitehall, Sinclair, and Hanks.
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Tactical Shifts and Performance Metrics
The encounter pits two English clubs against each other in European competition, with the aggregate score currently favoring Forest. Recent analysis highlights a shift in Nottingham Forest's tactical approach under manager Vitor Pereira. Since his arrival, Forest has reportedly scored an average of 8.02 goals above their expected goals (xG), a statistic attributed to increased confidence and a more adventurous style of play.
"Under Pereira, Forest have scored 8.02 goals above xG, arguably a result of the increase in confidence and risk-taking. Dyche did what he had to, settling things down after a tumultuous start to the season, whereas Pereira wanted to offer greater freedom. Forest are the highest scorers in the league since his arrival, with 19 in nine matches, and have the third-best defence and would sit sixth over the period, according to Goalpoint."
This attacking impetus has seen Forest emerge as the highest scorers in their domestic league since Pereira took charge, netting 19 goals in nine matches. Their defensive record during this period has also been notable, ranking as the third-best, a performance that would place them sixth in the league standings over the same timeframe. This contrasts with the previous management, which focused on stability following a difficult start to the season.
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Background to the Semifinal Tie
This is the second leg of the Europa League semifinal. The first leg, played on April 30, 2026, resulted in Nottingham Forest securing a 1-0 victory. The winner of this tie will proceed to the Europa League final, while Aston Villa also has the potential to feature in the Conference League, with Crystal Palace also involved in semifinal action. Live score tracking and detailed match statistics, including possession, shots, and key passes, are being provided by various sports outlets. Sofascore, ESPN, and BBC Sport are among those offering real-time updates and analysis.
