Aston Villa survived the second half panic, defeated champion league rival Nottingham Forest and ranked sixth in the Premier League.

Unai Emery made eight changes after Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at Brighton, with Villa just days from the Champions League quarterfinals and just days away from Paris Saint-Germain, but you won’t score in 15 minutes with Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen.

Rogers and Rogers Youri Tielemans were the only outfielders to keep a spot on the team, winning the first goal together, followed by the second. Forest without defenders Ola Aina and Alex Moreno both played five games at sea.

Substitute Jota Silva returned the goal to the forest before the hour, but as uninjured forwards Chris Wood and Taiwan Awoniyi told them they could not take advantage of the momentum shift.

Their 12 second half shooting percentage hit the target, although guard Murillo almost scored a stunning stop time equalizer and hit the bar with a strong 25-yard effort.

Villa had been winning the seventh straight win in all matches a month before a season-defined season, against PSG, Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle, and then played in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley.

Emery, now sixth, strides forward at the right time only after Manchester City’s goal difference.

Forest ended up paying for the first half defense, Morato fiddled with his Simban for the opening game, and Neco Williams couldn’t track Malen.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is still third, with a fifth shot expected to be enough in the Champions League, but Chelsea can beat Brentford and trail two points while Villa is six points.

Emery is happy with the ‘big win’ before PSG

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery Speak to Sky Sports: “Yes, it’s a big win.

“We started to dominate (first half). They were in the middle low obstacles, we started to dominate because they were not stressed out and didn’t leave. We were creating opportunities and we scored.

“I was upset in the second half. They changed their tactics and actively took more duels, oppressed higher, and we didn’t rule the way we needed.

“But we still have three or four chances to score, but we admit more (opportunities) than usual. We are always (in) drawing the risk of the game.

“But this victory is very important. I’m very happy with my victory and the demands to improve things.”

Nuno: We have a chance, but we don’t score

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo Speak to Sky Sports:

“We started badly in the first half. The second half was different. We had control, chances, goals. The second half was different, we had control, we had opportunities, but we didn’t score.

“We didn’t organize in the first half, we didn’t stop the lines, we allowed Villa to play and break us. It became even more difficult.

“It’s probably one of the most games we’ve created. We didn’t take anything from the game. Now, it’s about recovery because when you lose, your recovery isn’t great. All the miles come to mind.

“But we had a great week to reorganize and play against Everton.”

Asked about Awoniyi’s injury, he added: “He felt the hamstrings in his last game against Manchester United.”

Rogers: The villa has a great faith

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers Participate in the sky:

“It’s a great moment. We know it’s a big game. They’re doing great in the league and we know we have to start quickly. We know this game is a must-win. We were great in the first half and we were full of energy.

“It’s huge for us to get three points. The belief now is huge.

“That’s our team game! That’s what football is all about. In January, we had some signings and they competed a lot in three games. We made changes, but we knew all our work and roles.”

Redknapp: Rogers owns the complete package

Sky Sports Pundit Jamie Redknapp:

“I love it (about Morgan Rogers). He has the strength, the skills, he can score goals.

“He is different. Not many players have the skills and physical presence.

“When he runs with the ball, it’s almost impossible for him to stop. His feet are great and you can see the pass. He has the complete package.”

Analysis: psg be careful, the villa is calling

Sam Blitz from Sky Sports:

Paris Saint-Germain once again became the champion of France. They are now one of the most legal players in Europe at present by Ousmane Dembele. But are they explicitly opposed to Aston Villa? Absolutely not.

Villa is on fire at the moment and despite eight changes they made to the Nottingham Forest team, there is no better summary of how they fly out of the block. Every player is ready to bring energy to this run-in.

Morgan Rogers and Yuri Tielemans played against the Forest and played early on, but Marcus Rashford and Jacob Ramsey held on to that energy through the bench.

Matty Cash, Lucas Digne and Pau Torres weren’t even used on Saturday night – they’ll play a big role in fresh legs.

Moreover, in this tie, the villa is not exactly a little now. Their corner has a succession of winners Emery and has such an excellent European knockout record.

The only team he hasn’t shown in his career is PSG, which makes the quarterfinals even more tempting.

Analysis: The forest feels burning

Zinny Boswell of Sky Sports:

The wear and tear of the season of success tells Aston Villa’s Nottingham Forest.

Nuno had to defend at Aston Villa, Aina was injured in his parents’ club, Moreno and Moreno. The forest’s guard is five years old and looks uncomfortable.

Morato and Williams scored goals with high cost of defensive errors, but the backline in the first half was cold. We are already used to the characteristics of Nuno’s forest aspect.

After 120 minutes in the FA Cup last weekend, there seemed to have some tired legs, too, before another tax game against Manchester United in mid-week. This time, a positive result cannot help recover.

Jota Silva’s goal on the bench in the second half brought an elevator to the team, but as the momentum changed, they lacked the firepower to hammer it home advantage.

The injury of top winners Wood and Avoniy means Nuno can’t name the striker in Villa’s matchday team. Then, perhaps not surprisingly, they only had one shot from 12 second half.

Although their injury list may not be as deep as some, Forest never expected to be in this position and does not have the same depth as other clubs on the top of the tabletop.

Ranked third in the Premier League, seven games from the FA Cup final, and in the final months of the season, it was extremely jeopardized. To do something special, the forest must keep up.

Opta Stats: Villa’s big moment

• Aston Villa has won all the games for the first time in a row since 10 wins between March and April 2019 (in the championship game), the first time since March 1981 to be the top race (7) (7).
• Nottingham Forest lost only four of the first five Premier League games (W1) (W7 D2) in the first 11 games of the season.
• Morgan Rogers has seven of its eight Premier League goals this season put Aston Villa ahead (4) or attracted their level (3).
• Jota Silva failed to score in his first 22 Premier League games. Indeed, he has replaced three goals since the beginning of the year, with no player striking more goals on the bench in 2025 (aligned with Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz.

• The story of the game in statistics…

What will happen in the Premier League?