Nottingham Forest hold a 1-0 lead after the first leg and will return home to host Aston Villa in the second leg.

The winner of this tie on Friday, May 8 (06:00 AEST) will head to the UEFA Europa League betting guide final, and the Tricky Trees may feel more confident than their Premier League rivals.

Quick Picks

• Our pick: Aston Villa to win
• Value bet: BTTS
• Long shot: Over 2.5 Goals

Betting Preview

Aston Villa are far from being in their best form at the moment. Unai Emery's side are on a run of three consecutive defeats across all competitions, including two in the Premier League. After making seven changes at the weekend, Emery's side were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham, but perhaps the Spaniard had eyes on this upcoming encounter instead.

Of course, it's a competition he knows, as he has won it four times and reached the final five times. Still, his Villains will need to work hard to overcome the one-goal deficit they face.

Vitor Pereira's side won't make it easy. They'll enter the game off the back of a 3-1 victory away from home against Chelsea in the league, effectively securing their place in the division for another season. They'll also enter the game with the advantage of a Chris Wood penalty, giving them something to defend.

Villa have played well at home in the competition, beating Bologna 4-0 in the quarter-finals, while they've lost just twice in the 13 games played.

Betting Markets to Watch

Indeed, it's that form that perhaps makes Emery's side the favourites heading into this game and we think Villa will win this match. They've won nine of their last 10 matches in the UEL, including all six played at Villa Park. However, you could argue that this leads to value in Forest winning, especially as they enter the game in better form and will have a bounce in their step following perceived Premier League betting survival.

We think it's worth taking a look at the value being offered in the goal market. The 'Over 2.5 Goals' offers value in our opinion, as we know Villa are going to have to come out and attack, while Emery's teams often look to attack with purpose, regardless of how a game turns out. Both are susceptible to conceding goals, meaning the BTTS to hit could also offer value.

When looking for a long shot, the anytime goalscorer markets can offer potential value. Ollie Watkins is always a threat, despite having had a barren run this season. For Forest, Igor Jesus offers the value as he is the competition's leading goalscorer with seven.

Our Prediction

Check the latest Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest betting odds at Sportsbet.

We think that despite Forest entering the game in stronger form and perhaps with more confidence, home advantage and Emery's European cup excellence will see Villa win. There is value though in the goals market. For more insights on how to bet on the Premier League, check out our comprehensive guide.