Aston Villa crush Nottingham Forest to reach Europa League final against Freiburg

Aston Villa reached their first European final for 44 years in memorable style with a 4-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday.

Aston Villa erased a 1-0 first-leg deficit thanks to Ollie Watkins’ opener just before half-time and Emiliano Buendia’s nerveless penalty after the interval.

It was a late double from skipper and fan favourite John McGinn that finished off Forest to cap Villa’s second leg masterclass.

They advanced 4-1 on aggregate from the all-English showdown, setting up a final clash against German club Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20.

Freiburg beat Braga 4-3 on aggregate to make their first-ever European showpiece.

Leading the celebrations at Villa Park was noted fan Prince William, who sat among the jubilant claret and blue hordes in the stands.

Given the royal seal of approval by William, Villa will head to Turkey in search of their first major trophy since the 1996 Carabao Cup.

They are bidding to win the club’s first major continental prize since Peter Withe clinched their iconic 1982 European Cup final triumph against Bayern Munich.

In their first final since losing to Manchester City in the 2020 Carabao Cup, Villa will be firm favourites against unheralded Freiburg, who are seventh in the Bundesliga.

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It is Unai Emery’s sixth Europa League final after winning the competition three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, as well as finishing as a runner-up with Arsenal.

Emery has proved an inspired appointment, the Spaniard having revitalised Villa since taking over when they were languishing three points above the relegation zone in 2022.

Fifth-placed Aston Villa remain on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-five finish in the Premier League, but they now have the option of making it via winning the Europa League as well.

Beaten in the semi-finals by Olympiakos in the 2023/2024 UEFA Conference League and then Crystal Palace in the FA Cup last season, Aston Villa are one win away from shedding their tag as ‘nearly men’ who fall short on the big occasion.