Villa Park will be buzzing this weekend as an unstoppable Aston Villa, riding a remarkable six-match winning streak, face a Nottingham Forest side enjoying their own stellar season with Champions League qualification within reach.
Marco Asensio could prove the difference-maker for the hosts after netting four goals in his last five matches, though Forest's formidable away record and recent victories over both Manchester clubs suggest they shouldn't be underestimated.
Something must give when Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest kicks off in what promises to be a fiercely contested Midlands derby.
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham prediction: who will win?
For this afternoon's Aston Villa vs Nottingham matchup, our predictive model gives the Forest a 77.5% chance of defeating the Villa.
Pre-game probabilities
Nottingham
Moneyline
Win %
77.5%
22.5%
Aston Villa
Nottingham: 77.5% win probability
- Impressive league position (Currently 3rd with 57 points from 30 matches)
- Strong recent form (WWWDL - won 3 of their last 5 matches)
- Solid defensive record (Conceded just 35 goals this season, 10 fewer than Aston Villa)
Aston Villa: 22.5% win probability
- Inconsistent recent performances (WWLWD - mixed results in their last five matches)
- Defensive vulnerability (Conceded 45 goals this season, 10 more than Nottingham)
- Lower league position (7th place with 48 points, 9 points behind Nottingham)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model harnesses insights from top Premier League football experts. Instead of scouring hundreds of analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to gauge the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analysing football predictions, statistics, and expert opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to create an 'expert opinion' win probability—capturing the collective intelligence of the football industry's most respected Premier League analysts..
| Aston Villa | Nottingham | Draw | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match Result |
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham preview
Villa Park is set to crackle with anticipation this Saturday as red-hot Aston Villa welcome a surprisingly formidable Nottingham Forest side in what promises to be a riveting Premier League clash.
The Villans are absolutely flying under Emery's guidance, riding a seven-game winning streak across all competitions, including three consecutive 3-0 victories that showcase their newfound attacking flair.
Marco Asensio has been nothing short of phenomenal since his January arrival, with the Spaniard netting four goals in his last five matches and likely to cause Forest's defense headaches throughout the evening.
Forest, despite being traditional underdogs, have quietly assembled a remarkable campaign and find themselves on track for an improbable Champions League qualification spot – quite the renaissance for a club with such storied European history.
History doesn't bode well for the visitors though, as they've failed to defeat Villa away from home in their last eight league encounters, creating a psychological hurdle they'll need to overcome.
The January reinforcements have transformed Villa's attacking prowess, with Asensio, Rashford and Malen giving Emery's side a clinical edge that's seen them bag 13 goals in their last six outings.
Forest's defensive record shows a telling split – rock solid at home but considerably more vulnerable on their travels, having shipped 25 away goals compared to just ten at the City Ground.
While both sides have FA Cup semi-finals on the horizon, expect no holding back in this Midlands derby where Villa's home fortress mentality (unbeaten in 14 league matches) might just give them the edge in what could be a tight but entertaining affair.
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham form
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham head to head
Aston Villa
60%
Nottingham
40%
Dec 14, 2024
Nottingham
2 : 1
Aston Villa
Feb 24, 2024
Aston Villa
4 : 2
Nottingham
Nov 5, 2023
Nottingham
2 : 0
Aston Villa
Apr 8, 2023
Aston Villa
2 : 0
Nottingham
Oct 10, 2022
Nottingham
1 : 1
Aston Villa
Mar 13, 2019
Nottingham
1 : 3
Aston Villa
