Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic has hailed the "family atmosphere" created by Vitor Pereira and his coaching staff.

"For sure this season has been turbulent for us," Milenkovic said.

"The atmosphere in the club has been excellent, and hard work and commitment is paying off now.

"Vitor and his staff have had a strong impact. He's a passionate coach and has created a good bond and a family atmosphere between everyone which we can feel at the club.

"You can feel the huge desire to come back to all parts of European glory.

"Of course, we feel the power of the tradition of the club, and have a huge desire to take it back to its old days of European glory.

"We will do everything on the pitch to make the fans proud and achieve glory. We try to think positive and compete against Villa."

Villa are hoping to avoid a third semi-final defeat in consecutive years.

Unai Emery's side lost to Olympiacos in the Conference League in 2024 and Crystal Palace in the FA Cup in 2025.

Both teams went on to win the cup.

This is Unai Emery's seventh Europa League semi-final - and he has only fallen at this stage once.

He lost his first one with Valencia in 2012, but won in 2014, 2015 and 2016 with Sevilla, 2019 with Arsenal and 2021 with Villarreal.

Nobody else has been involved in more than three.

He won the final four times - with Sevilla and Villarreal.

The winners will take on either Braga or Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on Wednesday, 20 May.

Neither side have ever won a European trophy before.

Braga won the first leg 2-1 at home so it's still finely poised.

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira says their 1-0 lead does not change anything going into this game.

"We cannot feel favourites in this game. We need to go there, to prove ourselves against a strong team - but compete without fear. For me, the game starts 0-0. We'll try to win the game," he told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"It's about ourselves, to feel proud of ourselves, competing in a fair way, trying to be the best and get the best result. In the end, I hope we have reasons to celebrate."

This is Villa's third European semi-final - with two coming under Unai Emery.

In 1982 they beat Anderlecht on their way to winning the European Cup.

And in 2024 they lost to Olympiacos in the Conference League.

This is Forest's fourth one - with the other three coming under Brian Clough.

They got past Cologne and Ajax in European Cup semi-finals, and lost to Anderlecht in the 1984 Uefa Cup (a game where years later it was discovered the Belgians paid the referee).

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa's squad are entering a defining moment under manager Unai Emery.

Trailing 1-0 going into Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg, a 30-year trophy drought hangs around the club's neck.

There is a growing sense it is this squad's last chance to end it.

Nine of the current squad started Emery's first game - a 3-1 win over Manchester United in November 2022 - with John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara coming off the bench.

Six of those players started against Forest last week, Villa suffering a first-leg defeat.

Stability has underpinned Villa's success under former Arsenal boss Emery, who took over when the club were 14th and three points above the relegation zone.

But as they stumble just before the biggest game of his reign, has Emery taken this group as far as he can?

Read more here.

Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Villa Park

What Aston Villa need in this stadium is a performance. Every single player has to play their part. The fans will do their bit, but the players have to know how important it is.

This squad of players have had some poor performances this season, they have not been as consistent as expected. However to be this close to silverware, to be known as the group of players that have turned the tide - what an incentive.

Image source, PA Media

You can name really big benches in Uefa competition - Forest have more subs than Villa for example - so you do sometimes see injured players put on the bench who aren't likely to play.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter at Villa Park

The team news is significant. You can't help but feel, with the way that he played in the first leg, the participation of Gibbs-White would be significant, and a lot would hinge on if he makes the starting XI, he doesn't. He will only be used, I'd imagine, if it comes down to desperate measures. He's on the bench. McAtee is the one that deputises.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says "it's not a defeat" if they fail to win the Europa League.

The Spaniard said: "I am excited, 100%. I am so motivated. When I arrived here three and a half years ago, it was a dream to be playing a semi-final in the Europa League.

"I'm going to enjoy it. In fact, I'm enjoying it now. I would prefer to be here right now [talking to the media] than at home.

"To reach a semi-final is a huge achievement. To win a trophy is very difficult. It's not a defeat if we don't win a trophy. The objective is to always keep improving and make sure we have these opportunities in the present and in the future. We have the opportunity right now, but only one team is going to win. This is football."

Neither side have won a trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1990s.

Nottingham Forest last won it in 1990 with Aston Villa successful in 1996.

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa says they have to "forget the past three games" tonight.

The club have lost three consecutive games, including the first leg of this tie.

"We've got to put it behind us and the good thing about football is that the games come thick and fast," said Konsa. "We've got to forget about the past three games and focus on this one.

"We feel good and we know we are playing at home in front of our fans and it will be a special night.

"The season has been a rollercoaster with a lot of ups and downs in terms of dips in form and then weeks of crazy form.

"We just need to go back to basics and what we know. We know how good we are and how good we can be if we all stick together.

"It isn't going well for us right now, but we are feeling good and are ready to go."

BBC Radio 5 Live

There is full commentary of this game on BBC Radio 5 Live - which you can listen to on this page or any of the usual ways.

There is also a Europa League Final Score which you can watch - which is just starting now.

BBC Radio WM and BBC Radio Nottingham also have commentary, although not available online.

Forest striker Chris Wood scored the only goal in the first leg, with a 71st-minute penalty.

Lucas Digne conceded the penalty with an unnecessary handball.

Emiliano Martinez made a brilliant save to deny Igor Jesus in the first half.

Villa were far from their best in the game.