Thursday's Europa League predictions and previews including Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest

Today's Europa League predictions see Aston Villa's semi-final clash with Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest (Thursday, 8pm)

Reconvening astatine Villa Park for the 2nd limb of their all-English Europa League semi-final, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will clash again connected Thursday evening.

Forest clasp a slim pb aft past week's opener, but Villa boast a superb location grounds successful Europe; whoever prevails, the aggregate victor volition proceed to the final, facing either Braga oregon Freiburg successful Istanbul aboriginal this month.

We say: Aston Villa 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Nottingham Forest triumph 2-1 connected aggregate)

Expect different choky contest, arsenic Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are taking a much cautious attack successful Europe: some person kept 7 cleanable sheets truthful far, including 3 apiece successful the knockout phase.

While Villa started arsenic contention favourites, caller displays suggest they whitethorn beryllium moving retired of gas; meanwhile, Forest person recovered highest signifier astatine conscionable the close time, truthful East tin bushed West successful this large Midlands showdown.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Aston Villa vs, Tottenham Hotspur, including squad quality and predicted lineups

Freiburg vs. Braga (Thursday, 8pm)

To scope their first-ever European final, Freiburg must overturn a one-goal shortage erstwhile they welcome Braga to Baden-Wurttemberg for the 2nd limb of their Europa League semi-final connected Thursday.

Last week’s archetypal limb successful Minho saw the Breisgau Brazilians fall to a melodramatic 2-1 defeat, leaving the Archbishops successful power arsenic they pursuit a archetypal quality successful the competition’s showpiece since 2010–11.

We say: Freiburg 2-2 Braga (Braga triumph 4-3 connected aggregate)

Freiburg’s beardown location grounds successful Europe gives them a platform, but their caller signifier suggests they whitethorn autumn conscionable abbreviated of the level required to crook this necktie around.

Braga, with the vantage successful hand, are good placed to negociate the crippled and could bash capable to spot it out, particularly fixed their acquisition astatine this signifier of the competition, truthful a gully appears apt here.

> Click present to work our afloat preview for Freiburg vs. Braga, including squad quality and predicted lineups