On Saturday, Aston Villa surged into the Premier League’s top six, clinching a 2-1 victory over third-placed Nottingham Forest with early strikes from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen.
The win, Villa’s seventh straight across all competitions, sets Unai Emery’s squad up nicely for their midweek Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain. It also thrusts them into the race for next season’s Champions League spots, trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by just one point and matching Manchester City’s tally, only split by goal difference.
Emery, eyeing a top-five finish for European qualification, rested key players after Wednesday’s 3-0 rout of Brighton, making eight lineup switches. “The Premier League’s our priority, and it’s the path to next season’s goals,” he said. His gamble paid off fast.
Aston Villa's win over Nottingham Forest means they move up to sixth – level on points with fifth-place Manchester City.#BBCFootball #PL pic.twitter.com/DWcfLoU4Jh
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 5, 2025Rogers, controlling Youri Tielemans’ lofted pass, slotted home his 13th goal this season within seven minutes. Malen doubled the lead by 15 minutes, tapping in Ian Maatsen’s low cross, his second in two games since joining in January alongside Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
Wired from a midweek FA Cup semifinal push, Nottingham Forest struggled early. Down 2-0, they regrouped at halftime with Nuno Espirito Santo swapping Anthony Elanga for Jota Silva—a spark that changed the game. “We can’t start that poorly,” Nuno admitted. Silva halved the deficit at 56 minutes, spinning onto Neco Williams’ cross. Elliott Anderson nearly levelled it, but his shot veered wide. Williams and Murillo later rattled Villa’s frame, hitting the bar in stoppage time, but couldn’t salvage a draw.
How has Unai Emery's unique style transformed Aston Villa?
Rebecca Lowe, Tim Howard and Robbie Earle discuss after their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/HOSWt4n0J5
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 5, 2025Emery’s subs Rashford, Ramsey, and Kamara steadied Villa, though Rogers fluffed a late one-on-one. Forest’s six-point cushion over Villa shrinks, with seven games left to secure a European return since 1980. A potential FA Cup final rematch looms if both advance. For now, Villa’s hot streak keeps them climbing.
