Aston Villa will visit Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, looking to bolster their position in the Premier League's Champions League qualification race, where they currently hold a six-point lead. Manager Unai Emery recently guided the team to a 3-1 victory in a European match against Bologna. Villa has not completed a league double over Forest since the 1992-93 season, yet they have only lost three of their 17 Premier League encounters with them. Emery provided updates on key players, noting that Alysson has returned to training and Jadon Sancho is recovering well from injury, both facing late fitness tests. Captain John McGinn remains crucial, with Villa winning 61% of their matches when he plays. The predicted lineup features goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and a strong midfield led by McGinn, with the match scheduled for April 12, 2026, at 14:00 BST.