Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest prediction 07.05.2026 | UEFA Europa League

Aston Villa enter the second leg with strong European pedigree under Emery, who has consistently guided teams deep into continental competitions. Villa have been one of the most consistent sides in this season’s Europa League, scoring in each of their last 12 matches in the competition.

Domestically, Villa remain competitive in the Premier League top-five race, sitting in fifth place and pushing for automatic Champions League qualification. Nonetheless, even if Villa secure Champions League football through domestic competition, they should still be highly motivated to win their first European trophy since 1982.

In terms of team news, Villa have several concerns. Boubacar Kamara and Alysson are ruled out, while Amadou Onana remains a doubt with a knee issue. There have also been concerns over Ollie Watkins’ fitness in recent weeks, although he is expected to play a key role if fit.

Key attacking contributors include Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers in creative roles, while Watkins remains the focal point up front. Villa’s ability to generate chances consistently makes them a major threat, particularly at home.

Nottingham Forest arrive in exceptional form, unbeaten in at least 10 matches across all competitions, highlighting their resilience under manager Vítor Pereira. They also carry momentum from a recent 3-1 victory over Chelsea, achieved despite heavy squad rotation ahead of this fixture. To be precise, the Tricky Trees have enjoyed a five-game winning streak in recent weeks across all competitions. 

Forest’s European campaign has been impressive, having eliminated strong opposition en route to the semi-finals. They first defeated Turkish giants Fenerbahçe over two legs, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 aggregate victory against the already crowned Liga Portugal champions, Porto.

However, injury concerns could be significant. Morgan Gibbs-White, a key creative force with 10 goals and 3 assists in 2026, is a doubt after a recent head injury. Defensively, Murillo is unavailable, while several other players - including Callum Hudson-Odoi and Willy Boly - remain sidelined.