Aston Villa cruised past Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the Uefa Europa League 2025/26 semi final second leg at Villa Park on Thursday 7 May, 2026 to reach the final.
Unai Emery’s Villans reached the final with a 4-1 aggregate triumph over the Tricky Trees and will face German Bundesliga side, Freiburg, for the trophy in Turkey.
Nottingham Forest headed into the clash with a one-goal advantage, but, it was cancelled in the 36th minute when English forward, Ollie Watkins, converted Emiliano Buendia’s assist to hand the home side the lead.
And, after the break, in the 58th minute, Buendia placed the Villans ahead with the second from the penalty spot. The Argentine midfielder’s goal positioned Aston Villa in control of the game.
John McGinn’s brace in just three (3) minutes, in the 77th and 80th minutes, with assists from Watkins and Morgan Rogers respectively, completed the wallop and handed the hosts their ticket to the Turkish Capital.
Aston Villa will now lock horns with Freiburg in the final at Tüpraş Stadium, Istanbul on Wednesday 20 May, 2026 at 20:00 (WAT).
Prince William of Wales, who watched the match, celebrated Aston Villa’s victory over Nottingham Forest. The Prince told TNT Sports: “When we go to Istanbul in 10 days, we need to make sure that we are not the nearly men.
“There’s been massive lows, like relegation and it has built itself back up. It’s such a proud football club, it deserves success and hopefully we can be the group to do it.
“Tonight was up there with one of the best performances I have seen from a Villa team in a long time.”
Freiburg discomfited SC Braga 3-1 on Thursday night at Europa-Park Stadium in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany to reach the Europa League final with a 4-3 aggregate win.
Photo: Emiliano Buendia celebrate with teammates after placing Aston Villa in front with the second goal from the penalty spot in the Uefa Europa League semi final second leg against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Thursday 7 May, 2026 | Getty Images
