Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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These two sides both enjoyed positive results in Europe in midweek as Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa resume domestic action at the City Ground.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Peacock
Nottingham Forest preview: Steady in midweek
In the first-leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final against Portuguese league leaders FC Porto at Estadio do Dragao, a Martim Fernandes own goal gave Nottingham Forest a more than respectable 1-1 draw to bring back to Nottingham.
The home team went into the March international break on the back of an excellent performance about a month ago as they hammered fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur by three goals to nil at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Aston Villa preview: Impressive in midweek
Aston Villa, on the other hand, got themselves a UEFA Europa League victory as the Villans defeated Bologna by three goals to one with a brace from Ollie Watkins as well as an Ezri Konsa strike.
Unai Emery’s Villans have had the positive news that the top five in the Premier League will be enough for UEFA Champions League qualification and they begin the weekend’s round of fixtures with a six-point lead over sixth place Chelsea.
Nottingham Forest team news: Wood back
New Zealand international striker Chris Wood has returned to action after being a long-term absentee with the experienced attacker coming off the bench against Porto in midweek.
Forest still have four other injury absentees with Jair Cunha the closest to a return, while John is still sidelined alongside both Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Jesus
Unavailable: John (Injured), Jair (Injured), Boly (Injured), Savona (Injured)
Questionable:
Aston Villa team news: Sancho out
Jadon Sancho, who has been in excellent for Aston Villa for a while, missed out against Bologna due to a shoulder injury but it is only supposed to be a short-term issue.
January signing Alysson has returned to training but he is still expected to be sidelined for the time being, while defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara is a confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Bailey; Watkins
Unavailable: Kamara (Injured)
Questionable: Sancho (Injured), Alysson (Fitness)
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa prediction
Nottingham Forest begin this weekend sitting three points outside of the bottom three but that gap can be zero if West Ham United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night. Their last two outings would suggest some form found – but the same can be said for Villa, too, after a comfortable win against West Ham a few weeks ago, and siding with the visitors may well be a good bet for this one as they are a tough side to beat.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa tip: Double chance – Aston Villa to win or draw
