Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Aston Villa will host Nottingham Forest on 5 April 2025 as part of Matchweek 31 in the Premier League. Despite Nottingham Forest being all but guaranteed a third-place finish this season, current sentiment still positions Aston Villa as favourites. But is that status truly warranted?
Aston Villa
Every match is pivotal for Aston Villa as they chase a Champions League berth. On Tuesday, the squad delivered a commanding 3:0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, keeping their ambitions alive. Next, they face an opponent with an even more disciplined defensive record, before turning their attention to a high-stakes Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain just days later. There is no opportunity to rotate or ease off in either competition—failing to perform in the Premier League could cost them Champions League qualification; falling short in Europe could mean early elimination.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, hold a six-point cushion over the cluster of teams vying for the final Champions League spot. Their closest pursuer is Manchester City, whom they edged 1:0 in early March—a pivotal result that solidified their current position. The team comes into this fixture on a three-match winning run and is unbeaten in four. Impressively, they recorded clean sheets in three of those contests, including matches against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United, and also held Brighton & Hove Albion to a goalless draw in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
The foundation of Nottingham Forest's success has been their defence. They have conceded significantly fewer goals than expected based on their xGA, with a +4.2 differential—the second-best statistic in the league. However, they remain without Chris Wood, who is sidelined through injury. He has contributed 36% of the team’s league goals this season (18 in total), making a Total Under bet the most reasonable approach.
