Report as Aston Villa won 4-0 against Nottingham Forest to reach the Europa League final; Forest’s one-goal lead from the first leg of the semi-final counted for nothing; Goals from Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia and John McGinn (2) set up Freiburg clash on May 20.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa blew Nottingham Forest away 4-0 at Villa Park to win 4-1 on aggregate and reach the Europa League final.
Forest’s one-goal advantage from the first leg of this semi-final was wiped out by Ollie Watkins’ first-half goal and Emiliano Buendia’s penalty early in the second half put Unai Emery’s side in control. John McGinn’s late double completed the rout as Forest wilted.
Forest, for whom Morgan Gibbs-White was an unused substitute, came into the game on a five-game winning streak and full of optimism against a Villa side that had lost three in a row. But it’s Emery’s team who are off to Istanbul where they will face Freiburg.
Player ratings:
Aston Villa: Martinez (7), Cash (7), Konsa (8), Torres (8), Digne (7), Lindelof (9), Tielemans (7), McGinn (8), Buendia (9), Rogers (8), Watkins (9).
Subs: Bogarde (6), Sancho (n/a), Mings (n/a), Douglas Luiz (n/a), Bailey (n/a).
Nottingham Forest: Ortega (6), Cunha (4), Milenkovic (4), Morato (5), Williams (6), Hutchinson (6), Dominguez (5), Anderson (6), McAtee (5), Jesus (4), Wood (5).
Subs: Yates (5), Lucca (6), Bakwa (6), Murillo (n/a), Sinclair (n/a).
Player of the match: Emiliano Buendia.
How Villa turned the semi-final tie around
Attacking the Holte End from the outset, the Villa fans created a tremendous atmosphere with Forest trying hard to calm the crowd. Vitor Pereira’s side actually appeared to weather that storm before Buendia’s brilliant bit of skill opened them up.
The little Argentine skipped past two before laying the ball into the path of Watkins from close range. The England striker’s head was bandaged following an earlier clash of heads with Morato, but he was on the spot to level the tie, cranking up the noise even more.
Team news headlines
Unai Emery made one change to the Aston Villa team that lost the first leg with Victor Lindelof replacing the injured Amadou Onana. Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White was only fit enough to be named among the substitutes.
In the second half, Pereira introduced Ryan Yates in an attempt to make Forest more combative, but to no avail. It needed a VAR check to spot the shirt pull by Nikola Milenkovic on Pau Torres inside the box but it was clear. The irrepressible Buendia duly converted.
Any hope of a Forest comeback was erased by McGinn. The Villa captain had missed their poor loss against Spurs last weekend, but the talisman returned to send Villa Park into delirium, twice fed by Morgan Rogers and twice tucking the ball low into the corners.
For Emery, after the recent – and rare – criticism, it was triumph. Victor Lindelof, a surprise pick in midfield, was immense. Watkins and Buendia even better. Villa are one win from a first trophy in 30 years – and who would bet against Emery in this competition?
Emery one game from FIFTH Europa League win
Unai Emery has lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal – already a record – and is out to win the competition for the fifth time. He also appeared in the final as Arsenal manager but his side were beaten by Chelsea in Baku.
Emery reveals royal seal of approval | McGinn: We don’t want to be ‘nearly men’
Villa were given the royal seal of approval from Prince William after reaching the Europa League final.
Emery revealed the Prince of Wales visited the dressing room after the win.
The Spaniard said of Prince William at his post-match press conference: “He was in the dressing room with the players, and with me and of course he was so happy.”
The Prince of Wales showed his emotion during the game as he wildly celebrated Buendia’s spot-kick, which put Villa 2-0 up before McGinn’s brace secured the victory – and the Scot does not want his side to be known as “nearly men”.
