Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa once shared three European Cups in four years and one of these giants of English football can add another continental prize next month.
A classic Europa League semi-final beckons between the pair, which revives their glorious past. Forest won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980, and Villa claimed it in 1982. One will advance to the Final in Istanbul on May 20.
Though the Europa League does not carry the same prestige as the old European Cup, lifting it can still change a club’s future. Forest and Villa are two victories away from a place in next season’s Champions League and wealth that could change everything.
On an emotional night at the City Ground, Morgan Gibbs-White’s first-half goal was enough to knock out FC Porto, after a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg. When Forest scored, the players paid tribute to their grieving team-mate Elliot Anderson, who missed this game following the death of his mother. ‘One of the best nights I’ve had at the City Ground,’ reflected Gibbs-White.
It was a bruising night for Forest as striker Chris Wood, defender Murillo and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were all forced off with injury. In the eighth minute, Jan Bednarek was shown a straight red card for the foul that hurt Wood and that swung the tie in Forest’s favour.
‘I have a fantastic team,’ said Pereira. ‘It’s not about the manager. They have the spirit, character and quality. The players deserve it and so do the club and the supporters. We need to suffer together and feel proud of the supporters and the result.’
Yet it remains to be seen how this will shape Forest’s battle for Premier League survival. First Wood, who returned only last week after a five-month absence, walked off eight minutes after Bednarek’s lunge.
Then in the second half, Murillo and Hudson-Odoi – himself a substitute – had to throw in the towel. Hudson-Odoi left the stadium on crutches though Pereira was optimistic the damage to Wood and Murillo was not too severe.
Forest are only three points above the relegation zone and dropping out of the top flight would cloud an eventual Europa League triumph.
Chasing both targets has forced Pereira to juggle. He left Nikola Milenkovic, Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus on the bench and handed Wood his first start at the City Ground since he sustained a knee injury here against Chelsea last October.
Forest rode their luck last week and they nearly went behind inside a minute. Stefan Ortega saved instinctively from Terem Moffi and William Gomes hammered the rebound over the bar.
Then Porto were reduced to 10 men. Bednarek’s high challenge dealt Wood a fearful blow on the right knee and after a VAR check the centre-back was sent off.
Wood tried to continue but lasted only until the 16th minute – by which time, Forest were one up. Neco Williams robbed Alberto Costa and the ball ran to Gibbs-White, whose shot deflected off Pablo Rosario and past Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Gibbs-White’s team-mates joined him in holding up Anderson’s No8 shirt, which carried the message ‘Family first. We are all with you.’
Wood hobbled off and sat in the Forest dugout with strapping on his knee. Last season’s top scorer had an operation on the other knee earlier in the season and Forest cannot afford to lose him again.
Porto looking ragged and Forest should have finished the tie before half-time. Jesus replaced Wood and missed three excellent chances either side of the interval.
Nicolas Dominguez headed wide from six yards and Dan Ndoye just failed to connect with Omari Hutchinson’s cross while Murillo also went close from the edge of the box. Porto felt Bednarek’s sending-off had been harsh and tempers threatened to explode late in the first half when Hutchinson had an angry exchange with a Porto official, who stormed from the dugout to confront the Forest winger.
And after Jesus’ third miss, Forest learned just how fragile their lead was. Seko Fofana lifted the ball to the far post and the unmarked Gomes smashed it against the underside of the bar.
Pereira had taken a risk by picking such a strong team and he also lost Murillo and Hudson-Odoi. Hudson-Odoi had been on barely 20 minutes after replacing Hutchinson at half-time and he looked distraught, hiding his face in his shirt as he was applauded down the tunnel. With the game stretched, Varela’s strike from the edge of the box smacked the bar with Ortega beaten but Forest hung on, leading to fabulous celebrations.
