Aston Villa produced a stunning second-leg performance to beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park, overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to win the semi-final 4-1 on aggregate. John McGinn scored twice to lead Villa to their first European final since 1982, where they will face Freiburg in Istanbul.
Ollie Watkins opened the scoring with a crucial early goal, setting the tone for a dominant display. McGinn then took centre stage, netting a brace that included a brilliant finish after a long ball from Watkins. The Villa captain was hugged by the entire bench as he was substituted late on, having guided his team to victory.
Unai Emery, now in his sixth Europa League final, masterminded the comeback after a passive first-leg performance. Watkins praised the manager's preparation, saying: 'There's no better manager than this to get us prepared for this game and take us into the final. His track record speaks for itself.'
Forest, without the injured Morgan Gibbs-White, struggled to contain Villa's intensity. Manager Nuno Pereira's substitutions failed to turn the tide, and the visitors were soundly beaten. Prince William, watching from the stands, was seen singing 'Sweet Caroline' as Villa fans celebrated.
Villa will now face Freiburg in the final in Istanbul, aiming to win the trophy for the fifth time under Emery. The victory also keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-six Premier League finish.
