Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest set up all-English showdown in Europa League semis

LONDON – Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has warned that it is very “difficult” to achieve success in European competitions, as his side demolished Bologna while Nottingham Forest beat Porto in the Europa League on April 16 to set up an all-English showdown in the semi-finals.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final, Emery’s team swatted aside the Serie A club with a 4-0 victory at Villa Park. Forest, 12 spots below fourth-placed Villa in the English Premier League, defeated Portuguese giants Porto 1-0 at home to secure a 2-1 win on aggregate.

Villa are through to their second European semi-final under the Spaniard after making the last four of the Conference League in the 2023-24 season.

Europa League specialist Emery has won the tournament four times – three with Sevilla and one at Villarreal – and also finished as a runner-up with Arsenal.

But the 54-year-old insisted that nothing is for certain.

“I have my own experiences knowing how difficult it is in Europe, the process that we are doing and the demand,” he said on the BBC.

“We extended the game plan that we did there last week in Bologna. We wanted to stop them and impose our way. The performance and quality from the two matches has been fantastic, but difficult. We have won this (quarter-final) clearly.”

On facing Forest in the last four, he added: “It’s important for both teams. They have the momentum in their history of doing it at the highest level. It’s going to be a very good semi-final for both teams and the supporters.”

Ollie Watkins scored twice in the first leg in Italy and the England striker tormented Bologna again in the 16th minute at Villa Park.

It was an eye-catching goal as the hosts’ flowing 14-pass move climaxed with Morgan Rogers setting up Watkins for a tap-in from six yards.

His 100th goal for the club made him their top scorer in European competitions with 10, overtaking Peter Withe and John McGinn.

Villa then missed a 25th-minute penalty but it was only a temporary reprieve for Bologna, as Emiliano Buendia struck home with a fierce blast one minute later.

Rogers made up for his penalty miss in the 39th minute, finding the net to end his 12-match goal drought.

Ezri Konsa’s 89th-minute volley capped a dominant display for the home side.

“We needed to get the first goal, it was very important. They are a dangerous team away from home,” Villa captain McGinn said. “A great first half gets us to a semi-final, I’m delighted.”

At the City Ground, two-time European champions Forest booked their first continental semi-final since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup.

Porto defender Jan Bednarek was sent off in the eighth minute for an ugly foul that caught Chris Wood on the knee, forcing the New Zealand striker to limp off injured.

Forest quickly took advantage of their numerical advantage, as Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot from the edge of the penalty area took a hefty deflection and looped into the back of the net in the 12th minute.

He celebrated by holding up a shirt with Elliot Anderson’s name on it in a tribute to the midfielder, who missed the game due to the death of his mother.

Playing in Europe for the first time since the 1995-96 UEFA Cup, Vitor Pereira’s side will hope their Europa League run provides a boost in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

“The club and the supporters deserve it. I have a fantastic team. They have the spirit, character and quality,” the Forest manager said. “It’s too much to think Villa now. I will think about it after Burnley this weekend.”

Elsewhere, Freiburg swept into the semi-finals with a 3-1 win against La Liga club Celta Vigo.

After taking the first leg 3-0 in Germany, Julian Schuster’s side finished the job in Vigo, winning 6-1 on aggregate thanks to Igor Matanovic’s opener and Yuito Suzuki’s double.

Freiburg will next face Portuguese club Braga, who came from behind to beat Real Betis 4-2 in Spain, sealing a 5-3 triumph on aggregate. AFP