Error code: %{errorCode}
Villa and Forest set for mouthwatering showdown with huge call to be made on England World Cup hopeful
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest face off tonight for a place in the Europa League final, with the winners of the trophy earning a place in the Champions League.
The Midlands rivals and former European Cup winners have experienced contrasting fortunes in the Premier League this season and will now aim to finish with European silverware.
Here, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall assesses the form of both teams heading into the crunch Villa Park showdown, where Forest head with a slender 1-0 lead.
From sluggish start to potential contenders
Aston Villa began the season poorly, failing to win any of their opening six games which included being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brentford.
They did not score a goal in their first four matches but finally won at the seventh attempt by beating Bologna 1-0 at home in their Europa League opener.
That kickstarted a run of five straight victories before things got even better for Unai Emery’s side when they embarked on an 11-match winning streak which included a stirring 2-1 home success over Arsenal.
That encouraged hopes that Villa were genuine title contenders before their rich run of victories was ended by a 4-1 hammering in the return fixture against the Gunners at the Emirates on December 30.
Still, they continued to tick along nicely in Europe, reaching the knockout stages where they beat Lille and Bologna to set up a semi-final clash with Forest.
Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images
Chaos at the City Ground
Traumatic barely begins to describe life at Nottingham Forest in a season which has marked their first European campaign for 30 years.
Nuno Espirito Santo was gone after just three games and replaced by former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who lasted only 40 days after failing to win any of his eight matches in charge.
Sean Dyche initially steadied the ship when he arrived at the City Ground, but was sacked on February 12 after just 114 days and 17 games in charge.
In came former Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, who made the perfect start to his Forest reign with a 3-0 victory at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off tie.
Yet Pereira took just two points from his first four Premier League games, increasing Forest’s relegation fears before he conjured a stunning late-season run of form both domestically and in Europe.
Wardley to Dubois: No one has knocked me out yet and he's not the man to do it
Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier - Saturday, May 9 - Buy here
Villa spluttering, Forest coming to the boil nicely
Emery’s men have been rather streaky this season, racking up lengthy unbeaten runs and also periods of patchy form, although they are still fifth in the Premier League and remain well placed to qualify for the Champions League via their league position.
Nevertheless, Villa host Forest this evening on the back of three consecutive defeats in all competitions.
Last week’s first-leg setback at Forest came either side of a 1-0 loss at Fulham and a dismal 2-1 home reverse against Tottenham in the Premier League.
The Spurs defeat attracted scrutiny of Emery’s recruitment, with Ross Barkley, Tammy Abraham, Jadon Sancho, Ian Maatsen and Victor Lindelof all criticised for their performances.
Contrast that to the manner in which Forest reduced Chelsea to so much rubble with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge the following day.
Quite remarkably, that latest win for Pereira’s resurgent side made it 10 matches unbeaten in all competitions.
It was Forest’s fifth straight victory and they lie six points above the relegation zone with three games remaining.
Safety looks almost assured, but could Forest yet end one of the most turbulent campaigns in their history with a European trophy?
Emery, a manager who has won the Europa League four times, will have something to say about that.
Advantage Forest, but do not write off Villa
Forest fans are waiting nervously to discover if Morgan Gibbs-White will be passed fit to play at Villa Park tonight.
Their master craftsman had several stitches in a facial wound after a collision with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on Monday.
Pereira said: “It’s not a question for me, it’s a decision between the player and the medical department.
“We will have a last meeting to decide. We have a plan with him and without him.”
Gibbs-White has 16 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season and is undoubtedly their most important player.
Like many of Forest’s stars, he has thrived under Pereira in recent weeks and will hope his form could earn him inclusion in England’s World Cup squad.
Meanwhile, Forest centre-back Murillo has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury in Forest's home win against Burnley on April 19 and will also be assessed.
Villa Park is sure to be a cauldron this evening as Emery’s side look to overturn a 1-0 deficit and reach the final.
Emery lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla and once more with Villarreal, while his record at Villa is to be much admired.
He has delivered European football every season, reaching three semi-finals and a Champions League quarter-final.
For a club of Villa’s size, history and tradition, lifting the Europa League would do just nicely and cap their progress under Emery.
Forest will have something to say about that, though, as they also look to reach the final against Freiburg or Sporting Braga in Istanbul on May 20.
Tonight’s showdown at Villa Park, with so much at stake, will not be for the faint-hearted.
Watch Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois this Saturday, May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with the Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
