ShareFor fans of the English game, names like Ajax, Benfica or Milan are evocative of a different age of football powerhouses, names of old European successes by teams in a far-flung nation.By Karl MatchettFor supporters on the continental mainland, then, a Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa semi-final perhaps brings the exact same feelings of nostalgia and the turning of time!The best of times, the best of teamsTell people that English teams were once kings of Europe six years in a row and they’ll probably suggest it was somewhere around the elite Klopp-and-Guardiola gegenpress timeline, or maybe back in the more blood-and-thunder Premier League peak of Mourinho, Benitez, Wenger and Ferguson. They’d be wrong, of course; there haven’t been successive seasons of English winners in the entire Champions League era. But from 1977 through to 1982, top-tier sides on these shores were untouchable – and between them, Forest and Villa won half of those titles.Triumphing in Munich and Madrid, Forest won and then retained the European Cup under Brian Clough, while Villa followed up by beating Bayern Munich in Rotterdam to close out that dominant sequence.Opportunity knocksFast forward four-and-a-half decades and neither club has since added to their honours list of European trophies (no, Villa fans, we don’t count the Intertoto Cup). But both have an extraordinary chance to end that sequence, being two games away from a Europa League final against Braga or Freiburg. In truth, being fourth in Portugal or eighth in Germany should not present an unscalable mountain for either of this duo, despite both Forest and Villa having issues of their own to sort – not least of all beating each other first, of course. The first-leg hosts are still trying to avoid relegation to the Championship, while Villa are aiming to secure Champions League football for next term. Both things could happen and both appear in next season’s elite competition, should Forest emerge triumphant in Istanbul next month.Recent formForest have hit form at a key point, unbeaten in eight in all competitions and winning their last two at home. Villa were unbeaten in six before losing last time out but away from home have been typically hit-and-miss under Unai Emery, winning only two of their last seven. In league games, these teams drew at the City Ground two weeks ago and the hosts won at Villa Park.Last five resultsTeam newsMurillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi are the big injury misses for Forest, with Nicolo Savona and Willy Boly done for the season too.Villa have lost Boubacar Kamara for the campaign but are otherwise full strength.Key playerMorgan Gibbs-White has hit five goals and an assist in his last three games as he powers Forest toward a strong finish. He has to perform – the team revolves around him. He’s in the 97th percentile for xG in the Europa League among attacking midfielders and in league terms is the team’s top scorer, most shots on target per 90, second for chances created…and top for big chances missed.PredictionTight and cagey enough for a first leg, but Forest have recently hit a hot streak in front of goal and they need to make that count: Forest 2-1 Villa.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the Europa League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.For fans of the English game, names like Ajax, Benfica or Milan are evocative of a different age of football powerhouses, names of old European successes by teams in a far-flung nation.By Karl MatchettFor supporters on the continental mainland, then, a Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa semi-final perhaps brings the exact same feelings of nostalgia and the turning of time!The best of times, the best of teamsTell people that English teams were once kings of Europe six years in a row and they’ll probably suggest it was somewhere around the elite Klopp-and-Guardiola gegenpress timeline, or maybe back in the more blood-and-thunder Premier League peak of Mourinho, Benitez, Wenger and Ferguson. They’d be wrong, of course; there haven’t been successive seasons of English winners in the entire Champions League era. But from 1977 through to 1982, top-tier sides on these shores were untouchable – and between them, Forest and Villa won half of those titles.Triumphing in Munich and Madrid, Forest won and then retained the European Cup under Brian Clough, while Villa followed up by beating Bayern Munich in Rotterdam to close out that dominant sequence.Opportunity knocksFast forward four-and-a-half decades and neither club has since added to their honours list of European trophies (no, Villa fans, we don’t count the Intertoto Cup). But both have an extraordinary chance to end that sequence, being two games away from a Europa League final against Braga or Freiburg. In truth, being fourth in Portugal or eighth in Germany should not present an unscalable mountain for either of this duo, despite both Forest and Villa having issues of their own to sort – not least of all beating each other first, of course. The first-leg hosts are still trying to avoid relegation to the Championship, while Villa are aiming to secure Champions League football for next term. Both things could happen and both appear in next season’s elite competition, should Forest emerge triumphant in Istanbul next month.Recent formForest have hit form at a key point, unbeaten in eight in all competitions and winning their last two at home. Villa were unbeaten in six before losing last time out but away from home have been typically hit-and-miss under Unai Emery, winning only two of their last seven. In league games, these teams drew at the City Ground two weeks ago and the hosts won at Villa Park.Last five resultsTeam newsMurillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi are the big injury misses for Forest, with Nicolo Savona and Willy Boly done for the season too.Villa have lost Boubacar Kamara for the campaign but are otherwise full strength.Key playerMorgan Gibbs-White has hit five goals and an assist in his last three games as he powers Forest toward a strong finish. He has to perform – the team revolves around him. He’s in the 97th percentile for xG in the Europa League among attacking midfielders and in league terms is the team’s top scorer, most shots on target per 90, second for chances created…and top for big chances missed.PredictionTight and cagey enough for a first leg, but Forest have recently hit a hot streak in front of goal and they need to make that count: Forest 2-1 Villa.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the Europa League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.