Last four in Europe: Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa match preview and team news

Destiny stares Villa in the face once more as the Europa League semi-finals get underway at the City Ground

It bears repeating. Over and over and over again. Aston Villa want a trophy and a place in the Champions League, and there’s only one way to achieve both.

Villa erred in the Premier League on Saturday but remain in a positive position in terms of snagging a Champions League place and a return to Europe’s top table that looked extremely unlikely at the end of August.

In the Europa League, it’s crunch time. Villa have developed a knack of winning matches in the competition under Unai Emery, who has now overseen nine consecutive wins since a league phase defeat against Go Ahead Eagles in October.

Two matches remain. Villa would love a third but it doesn’t exist until they earn it. Their entire Europa League world now amounts to an away game and a home game against Nottingham Forest, who are finding form domestically as well as in Europe.

Look beyond this tie in any way and Villa are done; Forest will beat them over two legs if they’re not at the top of their game this week and next. It’s that simple.