Aston Villa will be without a key player for their looming Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.
Villa set for pivotal European night as Forest hold advantage
Villa’s season arrives at a defining moment this evening.
A single goal separates them from Forest heading into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final at Villa Park, and Unai Emery‘s side must overturn that deficit to keep alive the prospect of a first European final since 1982.
Chris Wood’s penalty just after the hour mark at the City Ground gave Forest a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, a slender but significant lead that means Villa must score while keeping a clean sheet to force extra time, or win by two or more to go through on aggregate.
Forest, whose extraordinary run of form under Vitor Pereira has lifted them from relegation candidates to European semi-finalists, arrive at Villa Park needing only a draw to book their place in Istanbul on May 21.
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It is a daunting ask for Villa, made considerably harder by the confirmed absence of Amadou Onana.
Aston Villa without Amadou Onana for Nottingham Forest showdown
The Belgium international sustained a calf injury during the first leg and has not trained since, with Emery confirming on Wednesday that the defensive midfielder will “obviously not” be available for Thursday’s match.
A timeline for his return has not been provided, with Emery missing the ‘very classy’ and ‘underrated’ midfielder once again.
It is a separate problem to the muscular issue that kept him out of the defeat to Fulham earlier in the month, compounding concern about the 24-year-old’s fitness.
Villa have endured a difficult run in recent weeks.
Three defeats in their last three games across all competitions have dented confidence, and Emery acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that the rotation forced upon him by injuries and fatigue has disrupted the team’s rhythm.
There is at least one boost.
John McGinn, who sat out Sunday’s loss to Tottenham with a tight hamstring, is expected to return.
The captain’s leadership and energy will be crucial if Villa are to generate the intensity needed to turn the tie around.
The midfield picture without Onana, however, remains a concern.
Ross Barkley is ineligible having not been included in Villa’s UEFA squad, and Boubacar Kamara remains sidelined. That leaves Lamare Bogarde and Douglas Luiz as the available options, neither of whom have performed consistently in recent weeks.
Emery was measured in his assessment of the challenge ahead.
“Nottingham Forest have the advantage and are the favourites heading into the fixture,” he said.
“To reach a semi-final is a huge achievement. To win a trophy is very difficult. It’s not a defeat if we don’t win a trophy.”
Ollie Watkins leads Villa’s Europa League scoring with four goals this season, while Morgan Rogers has been directly involved in five goals from six home appearances in the competition — a record that underlines how important Villa Park’s atmosphere and the home advantage can be for Emery’s side.
Forest star Igor Jesus, meanwhile, has been involved in five away goals in the tournament and leads the competition for shots and shots on target — a reminder of the threat Forest carry even away from the City Ground.
For Villa, this is not merely a match. It is a chance to write something historic.
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