Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest chase first European final in decades

LONDON: Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, two clubs with deep European pedigree, are a step away from reaching their first continental final in decades as they prepare to face each other in the Europa League semi-finals.

The first leg is scheduled for Thursday at Forest, with the return match to be played a week later. The winners will meet either Freiburg or Braga in next month's final in Istanbul.

Both clubs were among the leading English sides in Europe during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when English teams dominated the European Cup, now called the Champions League. Forest won the competition in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough, while Villa lifted the trophy two years later.

The two Midlands clubs, located around 50 miles (80 kilometres) apart, head into the tie after very different domestic campaigns. Villa, managed by Unai Emery, are pushing for a return to Europe's premier club competition after a strong season in the Premier League. Forest, meanwhile, are still battling the threat of relegation, although their form has improved under Vitor Pereira, their fourth manager in a turbulent season.

Forest are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions and have reached their first European semi-final in 42 years. Their recent run includes a 5-0 win over Sunderland last week and a 4-1 victory against Burnley, with the team finding goals after struggling in front of goal earlier in the campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche.

"Everyone is scoring, which makes us happy. It's a good feeling. We're eight games unbeaten now, and it's important to keep this mentality", Pereira said.

Emery's European record boosts Villa hopes

Villa have made significant progress since Emery took charge in 2022 and are seen as favourites to end a 30-year wait for a major trophy. The club reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League two years ago in their first European campaign for 13 years. Last season, they pushed Paris Saint-Germain before losing 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the Champions League to the eventual winners.

Emery also brings extensive experience in this competition, having won the Europa League four times during his time with Sevilla and Villarreal.

"I know how difficult it is to win a European trophy. European competition is very important to us, and it's given me so much in my career as a coach", the Spaniard said, adding "Now I'm trying to experience that with the players and supporters at Aston Villa. Forest have a history in Europe as well, because they won the European Cup like Aston Villa, so it is something special for us and for them".

For Forest, winning the Europa League would secure a place in the Champions League for the first time since 1980, when they entered the competition as holders.

The outcome could also affect the ambitions of other Premier League sides. If Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth in the league, the team placed sixth in the Premier League would also qualify for the Champions League.

After decades that included time outside the top tiers of English football, both clubs now have the chance to revive memories of their most successful era on the European stage.