A tale of two Morgans: why Gibbs-White and Rogers hold the key to Villa and Forest’s European dreams
For a season of so many zeniths and dreams, it has been quite the week of doom and gloom for Aston Villa and their manager Unai Emery.
Three defeats on the spin, including a wretched home defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, is glaring in its pecularity when you consider their position in the table (fifth, on course for Champions League qualification) and their impressive run in Europe.
Nottingham Forest’s early team news
Taiwo Awoniyi – who scored twice against Chelsea – is not in the visitors’ European squad, while Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo, who all missed the win at Stamford Bridge, are doubts.
The main worry for Forest boss Vitor Pereira is the fitness of Morgan Gibbs-White, who clashed heads with Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez and was whisked off the pitch for several stitches on a deep-looking gash.
Pereira said on Wednesday that they would have a “last meeting” involving the medical team to decide whether he would play.
Predicted Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega, Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Hutchinson, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Jesus, Wood
Aston Villa’s early team news
Unai Emery is bound to make significant changes after several of his star players were rested against Spurs.
Captain John McGinn missed that defeat with a minor muscle issue but should be fit to return, although Amadou Onana is more of a doubt with a calf issue.
Ross Barkley is ineligible while the injured Boubacar Kamara will definitely miss out.
Predicted Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on TNT Sports 1 and stream the match live on HBO Max.
When is Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest?
Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Thursday 7 May in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final, with kick-off at 8pm.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
A moment of madness from Lucas Digne in the opening leg, flinging his arm up as he duelled with Omari Hutchinson for a ball at the byline, proved crucial as Forest were awarded a penalty for handball.
There was a lengthy VAR check but Chris Wood kept his cool to smash home a glorious spot-kick, and Forest maintained their 1-0 advantage despite a late Villa barrage.
The two teams are in contrasting form – a second-string Forest side, with the A-listers rested for this leg, dispatched Chelsea 3-1 last time out while a much-changed Villa toiled to defeat against relegation-threatened Tottenham – and Unai Emery’s men must rediscover the form that previously made them Europa League favourites if they are to reach the final.
Good evening!
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage on tonight’s Europa League clash between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
The two Premier League sides meet again following Forest’s 1-0 victory at the City Ground last week and manager Vítor Pereira will be hoping his team can maintain their lead and reach the Europa League final.
However, Aston Villa remain the favourites to win the whole competition and in Unai Emery they have a manager who has won this tournament several times.
With the benefit of home advantage can Villa claw back the deficit and sweep Forest aside tonight?
We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and updates throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.
