Europa League: Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest to face off in an all-English last-four tie

Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia sparked celebrations at Villa Park by scoring his team's second goal in a Europa League quarter-final match against Bologna on April 16, 2026, as the English side secured a dominant win. The victory set the stage for an all-English showdown in the semi-finals, with Nottingham Forest also advancing after defeating Porto.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Unai Emery's Aston Villa team delivered a resounding 4-0 victory over Bologna at home, while Forest, 12 spots below fourth-placed Villa in the Premier League, edged out 10-man Porto 1-0 to seal a 2-1 aggregate win.

Villa's progress to the semi-finals marks their second European semi-final under Emery, following their last-four finish in the Conference League in 2024, with the manager having won the Europa League four times previously. Emery's impressive European record includes three titles with Sevilla and one with Villarreal, as well as a runner-up finish with Arsenal.

Ollie Watkins tormented Bologna once again, scoring in the 16th minute with a tap-in from six yards, capping off a 14-pass move that showcased Villa's flowing football, and in doing so, he became the club's top scorer in European competitions with 10 goals.

The England striker's 100th goal for Villa came after he had already scored twice in the first leg in Italy, and his latest strike eclipsed the European goal tally of Peter Withe and John McGinn, cementing his position as the club's leading scorer in continental competitions.

Aston Villa were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after Martin Vitik handled a header from Morgan Rogers, but Rogers' spot-kick was saved by Federico Ravaglia, providing Bologna with a temporary reprieve from the onslaught.

However, the relief was short-lived, as Emiliano Buendia struck with a fierce blast in the 26th minute, before Morgan Rogers made amends for his penalty miss by netting his first goal in 12 games with a drive that beat Ravaglia at his near post in the 39th minute.

Ezri Konsa's 89th-minute volley sealed Villa's dominant display, capping a resounding win that underscored their superiority over Bologna and set the stage for their semi-final showdown with Nottingham Forest.

At the City Ground, two-time European champions Forest secured their first continental semi-final since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup, after Jan Bednarek was dismissed in the eighth minute for a foul on Chris Wood, forcing the New Zealand striker to limp off injured.

Forest quickly capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Morgan Gibbs-White's shot from the edge of the penalty area taking a deflection before looping into the back of the net in the 12th minute, sparking celebrations among the home fans.

Gibbs-White's goal was followed by an emotional tribute, as he held up a shirt with Elliot Anderson's name on it, in honor of his teammate who missed the game due to the death of his mother, adding a poignant touch to the proceedings.

There was another emotional moment at half-time, when former Forest striker Tony Woodcock was presented with a winners' medal from the 1980 European Cup, a gesture that sought to right a historical wrong, given his strained relationship with then Forest boss Brian Clough had denied him a medal after he left the club during their run to win the competition for a second successive season.

Forest had a narrow escape when Porto's William Gomes hit the woodwork from close-range in the second-half, and they rode their luck again in the closing minutes as Alan Varela struck the crossbar, highlighting the fine margins that often decide the outcome of such matches.

Vitor Pereira's side, playing in Europe for the first time since the 1995-96 UEFA Cup, will hope their Europa run provides a boost in their battle to avoid relegation, as they seek to channel the momentum from their continental campaign into their domestic endeavors.

Freiburg swept into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time with a 3-1 win against Celta Vigo, after already having one foot in their first ever European semi-final following a 3-0 victory in the first leg in Germany last week.

Julian Schuster's side completed the job in Vigo, winning 6-1 on aggregate thanks to Igor Matanovic's opener and Yuito Suzuki's double, with Williot Swedberg's stoppage-time strike serving as no consolation for the out-classed Celta Vigo.

In the semi-finals, Freiburg will play Sporting Braga, who came from behind to win 4-2 at Real Betis, sealing a 5-3 aggregate triumph, after Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli had put Betis in front with goals in the 13th and 26th minutes, respectively.

Pau Victor reduced the deficit with Braga's first shot on target in the 38th minute, before Vitor Carvalho equalized four minutes after half-time, and Ricardo Horta calmly converted a 53rd-minute penalty to put Braga ahead, with Jean-Baptiste Gorby's 74th-minute goal completing the Portuguese side's stirring fightback.