It is eight years since Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest tore up the script in a Championship classic, a dizzying 5. 5 draw at Villa Park where Tammy...
It is eight years since Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest tore up the script in a Championship classic, a dizzying 5. 5 draw at Villa Park where Tammy Abraham plundered four goals. John McGinn was in the Villa midfield that day, and Matty Cash struck to hand Forest a 3. 2 lead with 22 minutes left on the clock, before further drama unfolded. Forest were reduced to ten men, but Lewis Grabban, who had worn Villa colours the previous season, struck the final blow to earn a share of the spoils. That was the last time these two Midlands giants met in the Championship. Now, for the first time this millennium, they meet in the top flight, but the circumstances are far grander. This is a Europa League semi final, and the stakes could not be higher. For Aston Villa, this is a chance to right the wrongs of history. Unai Emery. �s side have shown remarkable stability, a fact that becomes clear when one looks at the teamsheet from their last meeting just over three years ago. Eight of the starting XI that drew 1. 1 with Forest could start on Thursday at the City Ground. That consistency is the foundation upon which Emery has built his formidable project. Nottingham Forest, however, are no pushovers. Under the guidance of Vítor Pereira, the Tricky Trees have become a serious threat. They will give a good account of themselves, and the powers that be at the City Ground will be hoping for a result that tips the balance in their favour. This is the first major European semi final between English sides since Manchester United overcame Arsenal in the Champions League in 2009. In the scheme of things, this is a moment for Nigerian football fans to pay close attention. The lion. �s share of the action will be defined by midfield battles and tactical discipline. At the end of the day, both teams have Nigerian connections to watch. Villa. �s midfield engine room often relies on the industry of players like Boubacar Kamara, while Forest. �s defence will be marshalled by the likes of Moussa Niakhaté. The Nigerian internationals on both sides, if selected, will be keen to stamp their authority on the pitch. For the Super Eagles faithful, this is a chance to see their heroes in European combat. At viewing centres in Surulere and along the busy streets of Abuja, fans will gather in their numbers. The atmosphere will be electric, with supporters clad in green and white jerseys, clutching plastic cups of zobo and grilled suya. As the match progresses, the roar of the crowd will echo through the night. When a Nigerian player makes a decisive tackle or a clinical pass, the entire venue will erupt in celebration, with chants of. �Naija. � ringing out long after the final whistle. This is the beautiful game at its most thrilling, and for the fans in Lagos and Abuja, nothing beats the drama of European nights.
