Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will both be desperate to get back to winning ways when they meet at Villa Park on Saturday. The Premier League schedule remains relentless, and Gameweek 20 gets underway this weekend as the second half of the season begins.
Both sides enter this fixture looking to bounce back after disappointing recent results. Aston Villa’s impressive winning run came to a halt earlier this week following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. There had already been a growing feeling that their remarkable form masked some underlying issues, and talk of a genuine title push may have been premature. Still, Unai Emery will be keen for his side to respond immediately and reignite their momentum, especially with Villa now six points adrift of Arsenal.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, continue to struggle for consistency. The Tricky Trees suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Everton in midweek, extending their losing streak to three Premier League matches. With West Ham United closing the gap to just four points after their draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, Forest are beginning to glance nervously over their shoulders and will know the importance of picking up results soon.
Last season’s corresponding fixture at Villa Park ended in a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa, with Jota Silva’s late strike proving insufficient to spark a Forest comeback. With another tightly contested encounter expected, here is a closer look at the upcoming clash.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has received mixed news on the injury front ahead of Saturday’s match. Aston Villa could be without up to five first-team players when Nottingham Forest visit Villa Park.
There is good news, however, as Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara return after serving suspensions against Arsenal. Emery remains concerned about Amadou Onana, who was forced off with a tight hamstring in North London. Tyrone Mings (thigh), Pau Torres (calf), and Ross Barkley (knee) remain sidelined, while Evann Guessand is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Emiliano Martinez is expected to start in goal, with Villa likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The defensive unit should include Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof, and Ian Maatsen.
In midfield, Kamara is set to partner Youri Tielemans in the double pivot if Onana is unavailable. Morgan Rogers will operate in the attacking midfield role, flanked by Donyell Malen and John McGinn on the wings. Ollie Watkins will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Malen; Watkins
Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche has also received some encouraging updates ahead of the trip to the Midlands, although he will still be without several key players.
Ola Aina has recovered from a hamstring injury and is available for selection. Dan Ndoye is nearing a return from a calf problem and will face a late fitness test. However, Ryan Yates (thigh) and Chris Wood (knee) remain unavailable, while Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
Forest are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 system, with John Victor continuing between the posts. The defensive line should consist of Nicolo Savona, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Neco Williams.
In midfield, Nicolas Dominguez is likely to partner Elliot Anderson in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will operate as the playmaker, supported out wide by Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Igor Jesus is expected to start up front.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):
John Victor; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
Key Stats
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Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home matches against Nottingham Forest, winning the most recent five at Villa Park. Their last home defeat to Forest came in October 1994.
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Nottingham Forest have won two of their last four league meetings with Aston Villa, matching the number of victories they recorded across the previous 18 encounters.
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Aston Villa won their first Premier League match of 2025, beating Leicester City 2-1. They have not won their opening league game in consecutive calendar years since 2008 and 2009.
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Nottingham Forest have won their first league match in five of the last seven calendar years, including a 3-0 victory over Wolves in 2025.
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Aston Villa have won ten consecutive home games in all competitions, their longest such run since late 1989.
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Nottingham Forest have failed to score in ten Premier League matches this season — more than any other side. Only Wolves have scored fewer league goals than Forest.
Player to Watch: Ollie Watkins
Several players could have claimed this spotlight, including Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and in-form Morgan Rogers. However, Ollie Watkins stands out as the key figure to watch.
The England international is beginning to rediscover his scoring touch, netting three goals in his last two Premier League appearances — the same number he managed in his previous 19 games combined. That said, his recent goals have all come away from home, and he has not scored at Villa Park since September against Fulham. Emery will be hoping Watkins can translate his renewed confidence into a decisive home performance.
Prediction
Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s recent record away at Villa Park offers little encouragement, and Sean Dyche has lost his last two visits there by a combined scoreline of 7-2 after going unbeaten in his first three.
Forest are likely to compete aggressively and test Villa throughout the match, with John Victor expected to produce a strong display in goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi could trouble Matty Cash and find the net, threatening to halt Forest’s losing run.
However, Aston Villa’s attacking quality should prove decisive. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins are tipped to make the difference as Unai Emery’s side grind out a narrow but vital 2-1 victory.