By admin 
Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s late kick-off in a crucial clash in the fight for Champions League football.
Forest head into the game third in the Premier League, nine points ahead of Villa as both chase a place in the top five, with fifth likely to seal a place at Europe’s top table.
Villa remain in this season’s Champions League and face a daunting trip to Paris this coming week.
Their participation in the last eight looks to have had a significant influence on Villa’s team selection as they aim to narrow the gap to Forest and leapfrog Newcastle United in the table.
Check out the confirmed team news for the 5:30pm kick-off.
Aston Villa team news
Clearly with one eye on their quarter-final first leg with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Unai Emery has made eight changes to the XI that beat Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 in midweek.
The only players to keep their place are Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Martinez, the goalkeeper captaining the side.
Tyrone Mings, Andrés García, Axel Disasi, Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana, Donyell Malen, Ollie Watkins and Marco Asensio all come into the XI.
John McGinn, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne all drop to the bench, as do Pau Torres, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Marcus Rashford.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana; Malen, Rogers, Asensio; Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Konsa, McGinn, Rashford, Digne, Torres, Ramsey, Kamara.
Our starting XI to face Nottingham Forest 👊 #AVLNFO pic.twitter.com/Z1zFesocgt
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 5, 2025
Nottingham Forest team news
Forest, meanwhile, have made three changes from the side that overcame Manchester United 1-0.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morato and Nicolas Dominguez come into the team. Right-back Ola Aina is out with a calf problem, while the absence of Taiwo Awoniyi leaves Forest without a recognised striker with Chris Wood still unavailable. Danilo drops to the bench.
Your Forest XI to take on Aston Villa! 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/dowtxSJRbG
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 5, 2025
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Morato, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi.
Subs: Miguel, Sangare, Toffolo, Da Silva, Silva, Danilo, Sosa, Boly, Abbott.