The 2026 UEFA Europa League reaches its final four on Thursday 30 April. Two first legs, two ties with very different narratives, and at the end of them, the road leads to Istanbul and the final at Beşiktaş Park on 20 May 2026.
Braga welcome last-four newcomers Freiburg while there is an all-English tie in Nottingham as the UEFA Europa League semi-finals kick off on Thursday 30 April.
The headline tie writes itself. This is the first ever all-Midlands UEFA tie in European football history. Both clubs are former European champions, Forest in 1979 and 1980, Villa in 1982. Neither has reached a major continental final since.
Both matches kick off at 21:00 CET. Bet on every market at Duelbits Sportsbook.
Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
| Semi-Final | First Leg | Second Leg |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa | Thu 30 April, City Ground | Thu 7 May, Villa Park |
| Braga vs Freiburg | Thu 30 April, Estádio Municipal de Braga | Thu 7 May, Europa-Park Stadion |
The Europa League final takes place on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey.
City Ground, Nottingham | Thursday 30 April | 21:00 CET
| Nottingham Forest | Draw | Aston Villa |
|---|---|---|
| 2.50 | 3.30 | 2.90 |
💰 2UP - Early Payout: If either team goes two goals ahead at any point, your bet is paid out immediately as a winner.
| Nottingham Forest | Draw | Aston Villa |
|---|---|---|
| 2.30 | 3.10 | 2.65 |
🔥 Mega Boost: Morgan Gibbs-White Or Ollie Watkins To Score 1st - 3.00 4.00
The two most dangerous attacking players in this tie, Forest's creative engine and Villa's relentless finisher, both backed to open the scoring at double the implied probability. Given that both players are likely to be heavily involved in any attack, this is one of the most compelling boosts on the card at 4.00.
⚡ You Name It, We Price It:
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Both Goalkeepers To Make 3+ Saves | 2.55 |
| Nottingham Forest To Win & Have 5+ Shots On Target | 3.40 |
| Aston Villa To Win & Either Morgan Rogers Or Ollie Watkins To Score Anytime | 4.00 |
| Aston Villa To Win & Have 5+ Shots On Target | 4.35 |
| Nottingham Forest To Win & Both Chris Wood & Morgan Gibbs-White To Score Or Assist | 6.75 |
Both clubs are former European champions with deep continental pedigree. Forest lifted back-to-back European Cups under Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980. Villa claimed their own glory under Tony Barton in 1982. Neither has reached a major continental final since, making Thursday's tie one of enormous historical significance for both sets of supporters.
The last all-English Europa League match was last season's final when Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 against Manchester United. Now two more English clubs stand two legs from the same prize, and unlike any previous all-English European tie, this one involves two clubs from the same region.
Aston Villa finished second in the 36-team League Phase, level on points with table-toppers Lyon on 21 points (W7 L1), before making light work of Lille and Bologna in the knockout rounds, easing to a 7-1 aggregate victory in the quarter-finals.
Nottingham Forest enter their first major European semi-final since 1984 in high spirits after surprising everyone with their emphatic 5-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland last Friday, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches (W5 D3). Vitor Pereira has restored positivity at the City Ground.
Forest arrive on a wave of momentum that few expected. Morgan Gibbs-White scored the goal in their last European match against FC Porto and has scored four goals in the last two Premier League games. Igor Jesus, who averages a goal every 88th minute in Europa League action, now has two goals in those last two games.
Villa are the competition's highest scorers with 24 goals, just one ahead of Nottingham Forest (23), while they also rank joint-first for clean sheets with seven. Despite their statistical dominance, Villa arrive fresh from a frustrating 1-0 loss at Fulham in the Premier League last Saturday.
Nottingham Forest will be without Callum Hudson-Odoi, Murillo (hamstring), John Victor, Nicolo Savona, Willy Boly (all knee) and Luca Netz (ineligible), while Jair Cunha is doubtful with a shoulder injury. Morato is expected to partner Nikola Milenković at centre-back.
Aston Villa remain without Boubacar Kamara (knee) and Alysson Edward (muscle), with Amadou Onana also uncertain. Emery is expected to make two changes from Fulham, with Jadon Sancho potentially coming in and Ian Maatsen replacing Lucas Digne at left-back.
Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Ortega; Aina, Milenković, Morato, Williams; Gibbs-White, Sangaré, Anderson, Hutchinson; Wood, Igor Jesus
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; Sancho, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins
In the two Premier League games between the sides this season, Villa won 3-1 in Birmingham in January and the game at the City Ground earlier this month ended 1-1.
Forest have not won at Villa Park in ten attempts since October 1994, a run of three draws and seven defeats. That second-leg venue context matters, Forest absolutely must not fall behind on aggregate before heading to Birmingham.
Unai Emery is the only manager in Europa League history to win the competition four times, three with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. He recently became the fastest boss in Aston Villa's history to reach 100 wins in just 181 games.
Emery's teams in European two-legged ties are exceptionally difficult to beat at home but also tactically equipped to grind out results away from home. His approach to managing first legs in hostile environments has been a consistent hallmark across all four of his Europa League triumphs.
Villa are 19 points and 11 places above Forest in the Premier League and picked up seven more points than them in the league phase, they are clearly the superior side. However, in such a high-profile, high-stakes occasion, those stats may not matter too much.
In front of a partisan City Ground crowd, the hosts should prosper and can secure a narrow first-leg lead. This all-Premier League showdown is likely to be a closely-fought affair as both sides aim for a place in a first major European final since the early 1980s.
Forest's Mega Boost, Gibbs-White Or Watkins To Score 1st at 4.00, is the standout bet of the night. If this match produces a first-half goal, it is overwhelmingly likely to involve one of these two players. At 4.00 that is exceptional value for a near-even-money match.
Pick: Tight first leg. Forest to hold their own at home. Under 2.5 goals the analytical lean.
Best value bets:
Estádio Municipal de Braga | Thursday 30 April | 21:00 CET
| Braga | Draw | Freiburg |
|---|---|---|
| 2.41 | 3.20 | 3.10 |
💰 2UP - Early Payout: If Braga go 2 goals ahead at any point, your bet is paid out immediately as a winner.
| Braga | Draw | Freiburg |
|---|---|---|
| 2.24 | 3.00 | 2.85 |
⚡ Odds Boost: Braga To Win & Ricardo Horta To Score Anytime - 4.50 5.00
Ricardo Horta is Braga's most creative and dangerous attacker, the man who has driven their European campaign this season. Combining a Braga home win with their captain to score anytime at 5.00 is exceptional value if you believe in the hosts at the Estádio Municipal, one of the most fortress-like venues in Portuguese football.
🎯 Double Chance Markets:
| Double Chance | Odds |
|---|---|
| Braga Or Freiburg | 1.35 |
| Draw Or Freiburg | 1.54 |
| Braga Or Draw | 1.36 |
Braga have reached a continental final before, making it to the 2011 Europa League decider in Dublin, where they lost 1-0 to Portuguese rivals Porto. Plenty has changed since then, but unbeaten in their last four home games against German sides (W3 D1), the Arsenalistas have plenty to be optimistic about as they welcome Freiburg.
Under Carlos Vicens (formerly Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City), Braga have pulled off some great results in this season's Europa League, not least the 4-2 win at Real Betis that took them into the semis.
Freiburg, meanwhile, are first-time Europa League semi-finalists, an extraordinary achievement for a club of their size operating in the Bundesliga against some of the continent's most established clubs.
Braga approach the semi-final after their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions was ended when they lost 2-1 domestically against Santa Clara. They have only lost one of their last 14 games at home, so Braga look set to put one foot in the final with a home win.
Freiburg were hammered 4-0 by Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga at the weekend and may well be up against it in Portugal. A heavy domestic defeat followed by an away semi-final is a brutal sequence for a team playing in their first ever continental last four.
Braga's home record against German opposition is the defining statistic of this tie: unbeaten across four matches, winning three. The Estádio Municipal de Braga, the stadium carved into the rock face, is one of the most distinctive and intimidating venues in European football. The steep stone walls and wall of noise create an atmosphere that has unsettled far more experienced visitors than Freiburg.
The Odds Boost, Braga To Win & Ricardo Horta To Score Anytime at 5.00, is the standout play. Horta has been Braga's talisman all season and in a match where Braga are favourites, backing their captain to find the net at 5.00 with the home win included is the pick of the enhanced markets.
Pick: Braga to win the first leg and take a significant aggregate lead into Germany.
Best value bets:
| Match | Market | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest vs Villa | Mega Boost: Gibbs-White Or Watkins 1st Scorer | 4.00 |
| Nottingham Forest vs Villa | Both Goalkeepers 3+ Saves | 2.55 |
| Nottingham Forest vs Villa | Nottingham To Win & 5+ Shots | 3.40 |
| Nottingham Forest vs Villa | Villa Win & Rogers/Watkins Anytime | 4.00 |
| Nottingham Forest vs Villa | Wood & Gibbs-White Score/Assist & Forest Win | 6.75 |
| Braga vs Freiburg | Odds Boost: Braga Win & Horta Anytime | 5.00 |
| Braga vs Freiburg | Braga to win (1x2) | 2.41 |
| Braga vs Freiburg | 2UP Braga | 2.24 |
Bet on all Europa League semi-final markets including 2UP Early Payout on both matches at Duelbits Sportsbook.
Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
Our football betting guide covers all major markets from 1x2 to accumulators. The over/under betting guide explains total goals markets, essential for both semi-finals. Our Asian totals guide covers quarter-line betting like Over 1.75. The handicap betting guide explains Asian handicap markets. For bankroll management across a full European matchday, our Kelly Criterion guide explains how to size stakes based on your edge.
When are the Europa League semi-final first legs in 2026? Both first legs take place Thursday 30 April 2026 at 21:00 CET. Forest vs Villa at the City Ground. Braga vs Freiburg at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. Second legs are Thursday 7 May.
Who are the 2026 Europa League semi-finalists? Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Braga, and Freiburg. Forest beat Porto. Villa beat Bologna 7-1 on aggregate. Braga defeated Real Betis with a memorable 4-2 away win. Freiburg are first-time semi-finalists.
Where is the 2026 Europa League final? Wednesday 20 May 2026, Beşiktaş Park, Istanbul, Turkey.
Is the Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa tie historically significant? Enormously. It is the first ever all-Midlands UEFA tie in history. Both are former European Cup winners (Forest 1979/80, Villa 1982). Neither has reached a major continental final since. It is also the first all-English Europa League semi-final.
Who is the favourite to win the Europa League 2026? Aston Villa are the overall favourites, the competition's top scorers with 24 goals, seven clean sheets, and managed by Unai Emery, the only manager to win the Europa League four times.
What is Unai Emery's Europa League record? Four wins, three with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and one with Villarreal (2021). A fifth with Aston Villa would be unprecedented.
What is Nottingham Forest's form heading into the semi-final? Unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions (W5 D3), including a 5-0 win at Sunderland. Their best European run since 1984.
Where can I bet on the Europa League semi-finals? All markets are live on Duelbits Sportsbook. Navigate to Soccer and find the UEFA Europa League. Markets include match winner, 2UP Early Payout, Double Chance, Goals, Goalscorers, Bet Builder, Mega Boosts, Odds Boosts, and You Name It We'll Price It.
