Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest face off in a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg at Villa Park, with both sides looking to overcome recent contrasting fortunes. Villa have lost three consecutive games, including a home defeat to Tottenham, while Forest are on a five-match winning streak under manager Vitor Pereira.
The outcome could hinge on two playmakers, both named Morgan. Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, arguably English football's most in-form player, suffered a deep cut to his forehead in Monday's win at Chelsea. Pereira confirmed the 26-year-old is in pain and his availability will be a late decision, possibly requiring a protective face mask.
Gibbs-White has scored five goals and provided two assists in his last five matches, fuelling talk of a World Cup squad place. In contrast, Villa's Morgan Rogers has seen his early-season form plateau, with only two goals and two assists in his last 15 games. However, he remains a key creative outlet for Unai Emery.
Emery downplayed his team's chances of a first major trophy in 30 years, saying they had a 25 per cent chance before the first leg and now 'maybe less' after a 2-1 defeat. 'It's not a defeat if we do not achieve a trophy,' he added. Forest, meanwhile, are chasing their first European final since 1980.
Both teams will fancy their chances against either Braga or Freiburg in the final, making this all-English semi-final a high-stakes encounter with a place in the Istanbul showpiece on 20 May at stake.
