Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest in crucial Europa League decider
Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest in a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday that pundit Paul Merson believes feels like the tournament’s true final.
Nottingham Forest hold a narrow 1-0 advantage following the initial encounter at the City Ground.
A second-half penalty from Chris Wood gave Vitor Pereira’s side the edge in this tightly contested tie.
The East Midlands club are now just 90 minutes away from reaching their first European final in 46 years.
Champions League qualification at stake
The ultimate victor will travel to Istanbul on May 20 to face either Braga, who hold a 2-1 aggregate lead, or Freiburg.
With both potential opponents viewed as beatable, securing the trophy and a subsequent Champions League spot is a massive incentive.
“This game feels like the cup final for me. It has the feeling of winner takes all with either Braga or Freiburg to come.”
The former Arsenal midfielder noted that lifting the trophy provides an essential alternative route into Europe’s elite competition.
Worrying form for the hosts
Villa enter the crucial fixture having suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Despite resting key players during their recent domestic loss to Tottenham Hotspur, they missed a vital opportunity to consolidate their top-four league status.
The Claret and Blue outfit still face daunting Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City before the season concludes.
“They still have a chance to wrap things up with the game against Burnley, but mess that game up and then it might get a bit tricky for Villa.”
A monumental opportunity for Forest
While the hosts have alternative domestic avenues to Champions League qualification, the visitors rely entirely on European success.
Merson originally expected Villa to dominate the two-legged affair after witnessing their comprehensive league victory over the same opposition weeks prior.
However, a resilient defensive display in the first leg has completely shifted the momentum toward the two-time European Cup winners.