Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest Preview and Free Picks

Saturday brings a thrilling Premier League clash as Aston Villa hosts surprise package Nottingham Forest on Matchday 31.

Aston Villa is coming off a big win, having dealt a heavy blow to Brighton with a 3-0 victory away from home, bringing them closer to the European spots.

As for Nottingham Forest. They continue to make headlines after a 1-0 win over Manchester United, solidifying their position in third place.

Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest Betting Odds and Info

Por que apostar no Aston Villa?

Aston Villa is having a great season. After a poor start in the Premier League, they’ve managed to find their rhythm and are climbing the standings. With 48 points, they sit seventh, just three points behind fifth-place Manchester City.

They’ve recorded 13 wins, nine draws, and eight losses, though they need to improve in the goals department. They’ve scored only 44 goals and conceded 45—a surprisingly high number considering their goalkeeper is Emiliano Martínez, winner of the last two Golden Gloves. They are the team with the most goals conceded among the top 10 and have the second-worst defensive record in the top 15, with only Brentford (47) conceding more.

They are coming off a 3-0 away win against Brighton, with goals from Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, and Donyell Malen. All three players joined during the winter transfer window, showing that the club strengthened well and is now reaping the rewards.

In fact, across all competitions, Aston Villa has won three straight matches by 3-0 scores, two of them away from home. These results helped them advance to the Champions League quarterfinals and the FA Cup semifinals. They’ve now won six straight games, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one.

At home in the league, they’ve earned seven wins, seven draws, and only one loss—which came on August 24 in their home opener (0-2 vs. Arsenal). Since then, they have been unbeaten in 14 home league matches.

Por que apostar no Nottingham Forest?

Nottingham Forest is the biggest surprise of this Premier League season. With 57 points, they sit in third place, securing a spot in the next Champions League—a competition they famously won twice, in 1979 and 1980. They hold a six-point lead over fifth-place Manchester City.

They’ve registered 17 wins, six draws, and seven losses. Their 50 goals scored isn’t an outstanding number for a team in third place, but the 35 goals conceded are impressive, showing that their success has been built on being efficient up front and solid at the back.

They’re coming off a 1-0 win over Manchester United thanks to a goal from Anthony Elanga, marking their third consecutive Premier League victory and a four-match unbeaten run. Adding to this are two FA Cup draws that ended in penalty shootout wins, which earned them a place in the tournament’s semifinals.

Coach Nuno Espírito Santo, the mastermind behind this dream run, will have to deal with some key absences. Top scorer Chris Wood, who has 18 goals and three assists in 29 games, remains doubtful due to injury—he’s already missed the last two matches.

Additionally, fullback Ola Aina was injured in the match against United, and his backup, Álex Moreno, who is on loan from Aston Villa, is ineligible to face his parent club due to a clause in his contract.

Análise Final das Apostas: Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest

It’s set to be a great match between two strong teams with European aspirations. Nottingham Forest has shown impressive defensive solidity, but Aston Villa has been steadily improving their game, and we believe they’ll take all three points.

The odds at Gambyl Exchange favor Aston Villa, with their Moneyline set at 2.08, Nottingham Forest at 3.67, and a draw at 3.67.

The last meeting between the two took place on December 14, 2024, when Forest came from behind to win 2-1, overturning John Durán’s opener with goals from Nikola Milenkovic in the 87th minute and Elanga at 90+3.

Moreover, the last time they faced off at Villa Park, the hosts won 4-2 and remained unbeaten in their eight home matches against Forest across both the Liga Premiada and the Championship. The last time Forest won away at Villa was back in 1994.

Go for a straight win for Aston Villa in the Moneyline. If you bet $100 at 2.08, you will gain $108 for a total payout of $208.

Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest Betting Pick: Vila Aston