Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest UEFA Europa League Semi-Final: Highlights, Key Moments & Match Summary

Aston Villa are back in a European final after 44 years, with Emiliano Martínez and Emiliano Buendía both playing key roles in their journey.

Villa beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park to book their place in the Europa League final, where they will meet Freiburg in Istanbul.

After losing the first leg 1-0, Villa had to turn things around at home. Nottingham Forest went with Nicolás Domínguez in midfield, but Villa took control of the game after scoring the first goal.

Just before half-time, Buendía set up a nice move and helped Ollie Watkins score the opening goal, bringing the tie level on aggregate.

Villa kept pushing after the break, and Buendía then scored from the penalty spot to put Aston Villa firmly in control of the semi-final.

Emiliano Martínez had a quiet game, but the Argentina keeper still played his part in another big European night as Villa reached their first continental final since 1982.

Buendía is finishing the season in good form and is trying to push his case for a spot in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

In this article, we will take a look at the highlights of this game that proved to be a real thriller. Let’s first go through the match summary below, as it will give us a quick overview of how the game unfolded.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest UEFA Europa League Match Summary

Aston Villa were in full control at Villa Park on Thursday night, beating Nottingham Forest and winning 4-1 on aggregate to reach the Europa League final.

Villa started the game very strongly, keeping Nottingham Forest under pressure and pushing them back for long spells. Their pressure paid off 10 minutes before half-time when Ollie Watkins scored the opening goal, bringing the tie level on aggregate.

Unai Emery’s team stepped up the pressure after the break. Emiliano Buendía scored the second goal just before the hour mark, and John McGinn then added two quick goals in three minutes. That wrapped up a 4-0 win on the night and sent Villa into the Europa League final.

Villa received special praise from Prince William after securing their place in the Europa League final. Emery said that the Prince of Wales even visited the dressing room after the win to boost the morale of the players.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest UEFA Europa League Semi-Final Match Result

• Aston Villa 4-0 Nottingham Forest (Europa League Semi-Final Second Leg)
• Aggregate Score: Aston Villa 4-1 Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest: Goals & Key Moments

• Ollie Watkins scored in the 36th minute after a good assist from Emiliano Buendía
• Emiliano Buendía scored from the penalty spot just before the hour mark
• John McGinn scored two quick goals in the 77th and 80th minutes

Watch Highlights on tapmad

The latest Europa League semi-final was streamed live on tapmad, which is considered the best online platform to watch all UEFA clashes. Those who missed the live action of this game can now head over to the highlights section to watch the key moments of the match.

Final Words

If any manager is known for handling big Europa League knockout nights, especially when a second leg needs a comeback, it’s Emery, and he showed that again in this match.

The Spaniard has won this competition more than anyone else, lifting the trophy four times, and now he is just one step away from a fifth title with Aston Villa.

Lifted by the loud crowd at Villa Park, Villa were clearly better than Forest on the night. They kept Forest pinned back for most of the match and didn’t let them break forward on counter-attacks.

Emery also deserves credit for his smart tactics, but Forest looked well below their best, hardly troubling Villa at any point in the game. As a result, they were always chasing the game, which allowed Villa to stay in control and eventually win the match in the end.