Nottm Forest vs Aston Villa: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Nottm Forest beat Aston Villa in Europa League semi-final first leg. Nottm Forest vs Aston Villa has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Japan.

Key facts

• Nottm Forest beat Aston Villa in Europa League semi-final first leg.
• Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League.
• Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 1-0 win over Aston Villa: "It's one leg of the tie.
• Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 1-0 win over Aston Villa: "It's one leg of the tie.
• Chris Wood’s second-half penalty gave Forest a narrow to lead to take into next week’s second leg at Villa Park.

What we know

Going deeper, Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League.

On the substance, Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 1-0 win over Aston Villa: "It's one leg of the tie.

Beyond the headlines, Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 1-0 win over Aston Villa: "It's one leg of the tie.

More precisely, Chris Wood’s second-half penalty gave Forest a narrow to lead to take into next week’s second leg at Villa Park.

It is worth noting that Aston Villa Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on Elliot Anderson avoiding a red card for a challenge on Ollie Watkins: "Fantastic the referee, fantastic.

By the numbers

At this stage, 1-0 deficit isn't ideal but 90 minutes is a long time to hold out at Villa Park.

On a related note, Unai Emery lost a leg of a Europa League semi-final for the first time since his Sevilla side lost 3-1 at Valencia in May 2014, having gone unbeaten in eight straight semi-final matches in the competition before today (W6 D2).

Going deeper, Nottingham Forest are the first team to have seven penalties awarded in a Europa League campaign since the tournament was rebranded in 2009.They have scored five of them.

On the substance, Winner will face Braga or Freiburg in final on 20 May.

The wider context

On a related note, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on Elliot Anderson avoiding a red card for a challenge on Ollie Watkins: "Fantastic the referee, fantastic.

Going deeper, Aston Villa Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports: "We couldn't score, we conceded, but we controlled.

On the substance, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports: "We couldn't score, we conceded, but we controlled.

Beyond the headlines, I've enjoyed playing out there and we'll see how it goes."On wanting Villa to win on Sunday - against Forest's relegation rivals Tottenham: "That's the situation we're in right now.

More precisely, On wanting Villa to win on Sunday - against Forest's relegation rivals Tottenham: "That's the situation we're in right now.

The bottom line

• Wood thumps penalty into top corner to give Forest win after Digne handball.
• This is not the same Villa team full of energy we saw mid season, we are lacking pace, energy, consistency, and losing Kamara has made somewhat of an impact.
• Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White speaking to TNT Sports about how Vitor Pereira has helped him: "He's given me the belief and the confidence that I needed to step up.
• Searches spiking right now: 「あれをどう止めたんだ！？」――ノッティンガム・フォレストがアストン・ヴィラに辛勝したヨーロッパリーグの試合で、エミ・マルティネスの「素晴らしい」セーブにモーガン・ギブス＝ホワイトが感嘆。, Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa: Wood penalty secures Europa League semi-final advantage, 【ハイライト動画】ノッティンガム・フォレストvsアストン・ヴィラ｜ヨーロッパリーグ準決勝第1戦, Preview: Forest and Villa meet in all-English Europa League semifinal.