Aston Villa are through to their first European final in 44 years after they thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the all-English Europa League semi-final to advance 4-1 on aggregate. Boss Unai Emery is now one win away from a fifth title in a competition he specialises in and only Bundesliga outfit Freiburg stand between Villa and their first major trophy in 30 years.
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Chris Wood’s second-half penalty gave Nottingham Forest the advantage in their all-English Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa. The New Zealand striker emphatically converted from 12 yards to put Forest just 90 minutes away from a first European final in 46 years as they took a 1-0 first-leg lead. But they will know there is still work to do if they want to try and follow in the footsteps of Brian Clough’s side which won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.
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Aston Villa fought back from 2-0 down to beat Red Bull Salzburg and finish second in the Europa League league phase, but Ollie Watkins was forced off to compound their injury issues. Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba’s first Villa goal earned a late victory for the hosts, who had already qualified for the last 16, at Villa Park.
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