Europa League 2025-2026: Nottingham Forest-Aston Villa, the likely lineups

Everything is ready at the City Ground, where tonight, at 9 p.m., the highly anticipated challenge between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa will be staged. The match, valid for the first leg of the Europa League semifinal, promises spectacle with the hosts determined to take advantage of the home factor to dream of the final. It promises to be a classic and authentic English derby, transported, however, to the prestigious European stage. Dto a lato, the enthusiasm of the guidata from Vitor Pereira, a true revelation of the tournamentfrom the otheror the consolidated experience in the European field of the team coached by Unai Emery, vandromaster of this competition. It will be ninety minutesad ahigh intensity, in which every slightest mistake can make the difference as we await the return match to see who will go on to contend for the title.

Vitor Pereira relies on the solidity of Ortega between the posts and the central pair Milenkovic-Morato. In midfield, the grit of Yates and Anderson will back up the imagination of the Hutchinson-Dominguez-Gibbs-White trio. Forward, the spotlight will be on Igor Jesus, the offensive terminal charged with unhinging the defense of the Villans.

Emery is banking on his loyalists, with Martinez leading the backline composed of Konsa and Pau Torres. The surprise in midfield is young Bogarde next to Tielemans, while the quality trident McGinn-Rogers-Buendia will act in the three-quarter. The only forward will be the immovable Ollie Watkins, ready to strike on the counterattack.

The probable formations

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Hutchinson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White; Igor Jesus. All. Vitor Pereira.

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins. All. Unai Emery.