Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
McGinn's Late Brace Seals Dramatic Aston Villa Victory Over Nottingham Forest
In an electrifying night of European football, Aston Villa secured a hard-fought victory over Nottingham Forest, with John McGinn emerging as the decisive hero with two goals in the dying stages of the match on May 7, 2026.
Tightly Contested First Half
The UEFA Europa League encounter began with a cautious approach from both sides. Clear chances were at a premium in the opening exchanges, with much of the play confined to the midfield battle. Nottingham Forest sought to impose their rhythm, but Aston Villa presented a solid defensive unit. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Ollie Watkins found the back of the net for the Villans, finishing off a well-crafted move that involved an assist from Emiliano Buendía and a key pass from Ollie Watkins. Aston Villa managed to take a slender lead into the half-time interval.
Thrilling Second-Half Turnaround
The second half saw a shift in momentum. Nottingham Forest came out with renewed intent to equalize, but Aston Villa doubled their advantage in the 58th minute. A passage of play that led to a VAR review ultimately resulted in a penalty for Aston Villa. Emiliano Buendía stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, extending the home side's lead. However, the fight from the visitors was far from over. In the closing minutes, John McGinn took centre stage, netting twice in quick succession. His first goal arrived in the 77th minute, with Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers credited with the assists, before adding a second in the 80th minute, set up by Morgan Rogers, which ultimately sealed the victory for Aston Villa. Despite late efforts from Nottingham Forest to create further chances, including a header wide from Lorenzo Lucca in added time, Aston Villa's defence, marshalled by Ezri Konsa, held firm to secure a deserved three points.
