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Ola Aina to Miss Nottingham Forest’s Crucial Europa League Semi-Final Clash at Aston Villa

Posted : 07 May 2026

Nottingham Forest will be without the services of Nigerian international Ola Aina for their decisive Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa. The versatile defender failed to recover in time for the trip to Villa Park after picking up a muscle strain during the first leg at the City Ground. His absence serves as a major blow to manager Vitor Pereira as the Tricky Trees look to defend a slim 1-0 advantage.

Aina was a standout performer in the opening encounter but was forced off in the 75th minute. He subsequently missed the club’s recent 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea, fueling concerns about his availability for the European showdown. Sky Sports confirmed that the 29-year-old was absent from the team's final training session on Wednesday. This development leaves Pereira with significant defensive concerns ahead of one of the club's biggest games in decades.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Pereira expressed his disappointment regarding the mounting injury list. He confirmed that Aina remains sidelined alongside several other key first-team players. The Portuguese coach noted that the squad is currently stretched thin, particularly in defensive and wide areas. He emphasized the need for the available players to show resilience in a hostile environment.

Forest enter the match holding a narrow lead thanks to a Chris Wood penalty in the first leg. This match represents a historic opportunity for the club to reach its first major European final in 44 years. However, Aston Villa remain formidable at home and will be desperate to overturn the deficit. The loss of Aina’s pace and tactical discipline on the flank makes the task considerably harder for the visiting side.

The Nigerian fullback has been one of Forest’s most consistent performers this season. His injury also raises questions for the Super Eagles coaching staff ahead of the upcoming Unity Cup in London. For now, Forest must find a way to contain Villa's attacking threats without their primary right-back. The winner of this all-English tie will progress to the final in Istanbul to face either Braga or Freiburg.

 

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