Overview
- At the City Ground on Thursday, Chris Wood’s second-half spot-kick after a long VAR check for a Lucas Digne handball gave Forest a 1–0 first-leg win.
- The penalty followed a review that confirmed Omari Hutchinson’s hooked cross stayed in play before striking Digne’s arm.
- Before the breakthrough, Emiliano Martínez denied Igor Jesus and Stefan Ortega stopped Ollie Watkins in a tight match that was 0–0 at half-time.
- Forest started Stefan Ortega and coped without injured defenders Murillo and Jair Cunha, while Villa paired Lamare Bogarde with Youri Tielemans after Amadou Onana was not fit to start.
- The return leg is on May 7 at Villa Park, with Forest seeking a first European final in 42 years and Villa leaning on Unai Emery’s Europa League know‑how and high scoring form.