Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa meet in the first all-English semi-final since 2008-09
The sides drew 1-1 at the City Ground in the Premier League on April 12
Recommended bet: Draw
Nottingham Forest's Premier League status for next season now looks assured after Friday's 5-0 win at Sunderland and they can focus on their Europa League semi-final against domestic rivals Aston Villa.
Despite Saturday's 1-0 loss at Fulham, the Villans also look all but guaranteed to play in next season's Champions League, allowing Unai Emery to focus on winning this competition for a record-extending fifth time as a coach.
Thursday's game and next week's return match mark the first time since 2008-09 that two English sides have met in a European semi-final and having recently drawn 1-1 at the City Ground, another even contest is expected.
The latest Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Callum Hudson-Odoi (quadriceps), Murillo (hamstring), John Victor, Nicolo Savona, Willy Boly (all knee) and Luca Netz (ineligible) are absent for Forest.
Defender Jair Cunha is a doubt due to a shoulder injury, meaning Morato could start alongside Nikola Milenkovic, and Stefan Ortega might be selected ahead of Mats Sels in goal.
Villa's Boubacar Kamara (knee) and Alysson (unspecified) are absent, while Amadou Onana is a doubt.
Douglas Luiz, who was on loan at Forest in the first half of the season, is an option in the Villa midfield, while left-back Ian Maatsen and centre-back Tyrone Mings are pushing for recalls in defence.
The stats
Forest and Villa drew 1-1 at the City Ground on April 12, the fifth successive meeting in which both sides have scored.
Friday's 5-0 win at Sunderland extended Forest's unbeaten run to eight games, including an away draw and home victory over quarter-final opponents Porto.
Villa beat Bologna 7-1 on aggregate and Ollie Watkins scored three times to take his Europa League tally to four goals.
Forest's Igor Jesus has tournament-joint-high seven strikes and is averaging 2.81 shots per game, contributing to his side having had 230 efforts, the most of the remaining semi-finalists.
The latest Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
The recent 1-1 draw could prove instructive, with both Vitor Pereira and Emery expected to favour a containing game in the battle to face either Sporting Braga or Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20.
Saturday's loss at Fulham aside, Villa have been in good form, losing only one of their previous seven, while Forest also approach this game in decent fettle, having avoided defeat in their last eight.
Despite their different positions in the Premier League table, these two teams look well-matched and may have to settle for a draw.
