Reds 'will go on attack' in first leg against Villa

[Getty Images]

After moving one step closer to securing Premier League safety with a 5-0 win over Sunderland, Nottingham Forest can probably afford to start putting their European ambitions first now.

When the two-time European champions come up against Aston Villa, who also have one European Cup to their name, in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday night, one thing's for sure: both teams will want to take an early advantage.

Vitor Pereira's decision to field a slightly strengthened side for the club's quarter-final second leg win over Porto paid dividends, so we can except him to follow suit in what will be an even bigger tie against Premier League opposition.

But will the Reds opt to sit in or go on the attack in their home leg at the City Ground?

Well, the statistics can probably answer that one.

Forest have accumulated the best xG (27.8) in the Europa League this season, having taken 414 touches in the opposition box across their 14 fixtures in the competition, with 23 of their 88 shots on target finding the back of the net.

Only Serie A side Bologna, who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Villa, beat the Reds in each of those three categories.