Europa League: Unai Emery and Vítor Pereira to speak before Aston Villa v Bologna and Nottingham Forest v Porto

A good start to a key week

Nick Mashiter

BBC Sport football news reporter

Forest are unbeaten in their past five games in all competitions as Vitor Pereira looks to steer them away from trouble.

With a three-point cushion to the relegation zone, survival is in their hands - especially with the visit of second-bottom Burnley to the City Ground next Sunday.

Four points from home games against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and fellow strugglers Burnley would represent a crucial return in the fight against the drop.

They are battling for it and rode their luck against Villa - with Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins missing superb openings - but it is another point on the board.

Pereira's decision to rest a number of senior players for the midweek Europa League draw at Porto also paid off, and with Chris Wood making his return after six months out injured this week the momentum is with Forest.

Premier League survival is the priority - Pereira saying it would be a "disaster" if Forest were to be relegated - but in a week which will define their season they have made a positive start.

Porto visit in the Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday, and come Sunday evening Forest could be almost safe and into a European semi-final.

Villa's improving record against Italian teams

Aston Villa v Bologna (Thur, 20:00 BST)

Aston Villa

Aston Villa head into their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bologna on Thursday night with a healthy 3-1 first-leg lead, but will the Villans' record against Italian sides settle any nerves going into such a big game?

The club has rarely faced Italian competition in Europe, but across 10 matches against Juventus, Inter Milan and - most importantly - Bologna, they have come away with five wins, one draw and four defeats.

Overall, Aston Villa have been particularly strong against Italian teams at Villa Park, while most of their defeats have come in Italy.

The good news for Villa fans is their strongest record is against Bologna, who they have now beaten on all three occasions - with each win coming during Unai Emery's tenure.

Fan's voice: 'Villa must capitalise on opportunities'

Aston Villa v Bologna (Thur, 20:00 BST)

Aston Villa

Hannah Gowen, Aston Villa fan writer

Missed chances in front of goal against Nottingham Forest sent Aston Villa home to the other side of the Midlands with a solitary point on Sunday. In the final stretch of the season, opportunities to capitalise feel more precious than ever.

This season has been a tale of many dry spells. Since the turn of the year, Villa have only scored more than one goal in three of their league games. Europe has been a slightly different story, but generally Unai Emery has been unable to unlock the best of his team in the final third.

The club has been without a trophy since 1996 - a three-decade silverware drought that looms large over one of the oldest and most decorated clubs in the country. A Europa League triumph feels almost essential to reinstate Villa back among the top of the English and European games.

This squad has a point to prove and there has never been a better time to cement new names in the Aston Villa history books.

Villa in charge of Champions League fate despite domestic struggles

Aston Villa v Bologna (Thur, 20:00 BST)

Aston Villa

Having appeared in a title race at the halfway point of the Premier League campaign, Aston Villa's domestic form has suffered a dip as they seek to secure a place in next season's Champions League via their league position.

We now know that a top-five finish will guarantee a Champions League spot.

And, despite a run of just three wins in their past 12 league games, fourth-placed Villa remain seven points clear of Chelsea, in sixth, with just six games remaining.

But Unai Emery - and no doubt the fans - will be keen to get qualification confirmed at the earliest opportunity to take additional pressure off a potential European final.

Villa's two routes to the Champions League

Aston Villa v Bologna (Thur, 20:00 BST)

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have two routes that can take them to the Champions League next season.

If Villa win the Europa League final, they will be guaranteed a spot in the Champions League, regardless of a top five finish in the league.

Should they end the season in the top five, Villa will get a spot in the Champions League. Nothing changes for the Premier League in terms of England's European places: the team in Champions League qualifying with the best coefficient moves up to the league phase.

If Villa are outside the top four, where they finish will decide if a European place is forfeited or if the Premier League gets an extra team in Europe.

'Stick to the plan - but respect Bologna'

Aston Villa v Bologna (Thur, 20:00 BST)

Aston Villa

After the first leg, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said he would call for his players to continue playing their football in the second leg and not fall into the trap of attempting to defend what they have.

"The result was much better than the match we played in the first half, but in the second half it was completely different," Emery told TNT Sports.

"We dominated them and controlled the game like we planned to in the first half and we were comfortable. We reacted well offensively when they scored.

"In the second leg they are going to try to suppress us and my message inside the dressing room is to keep playing the second leg with the plan we will have, but keep respecting them."

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While we wait for Unai Emery and Vitor Pereira this afternoon, we're especially keen to hear from the Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest fans out there.

How confident are you that your side will be in the Europa League semi-finals by the end of play on Thursday? And what about winning the whole thing?

Both clubs have their own objectives still to meet domestically, with Villa seeking to guarantee Champions League football with a top-five Premier League finish and Forest fighting to avoid relegation, but would you want your club to now go all-in on winning a European trophy instead?

Click the Get Involved button to have your say!

Forest's dreams alive after gift

Nottingham Forest v Porto (Thurs, 20:00 BST)

Nottingham Forest

A freak own goal from Martin Fernandes gifted Nottingham Forest a 1-1 draw against Porto and kept their dream of reaching a first European semi-final in over 40 years alive.

The Porto defender passed the ball into his own net from 45 yards out, with goalkeeper Diogo Gomes stranded, to cancel out William Gomes' 11th-minute opener.

It gave Forest a way back in Portugal just as the hosts threatened to quickly take complete control of the Europa League quarter-final first leg.

Stefan Ortega had already denied Terem Moffi and Borja Sainz before Porto went ahead, William Gomes finishing at the far post, and he saved again from Moffi in first-half injury time.

Forest's Igor Jesus had a goal disallowed after the break, having collided with the goalkeeper, while Ortega's fine stop denied William Gomes a second.

Watkins double puts Villa in charge

Aston Villa v Bologna (Thur, 20:00 BST)

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have given themselves a wonderful chance of reaching the Europa League semi-finals after winning the first leg of their tie against Bologna 3-1 in Italy.

Striker Ollie Watkins scored twice, including a potentially crucial 94th minute third goal for his side after Bologna had halved the deficit late on.

Ezri Konsa had given Villa the lead - but only after Bologna were disallowed an opener in a tight offside call.

Appearing in their third European quarter-final in as many seasons, Unai Emery's side will feel confident of getting the job done on home soil, where they have defeated Bologna twice in the past 18 months.

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