Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will face off in an all-English Europa League semi-final after both teams advanced from their quarter-finals. Villa secured a 7-1 aggregate win over Bologna, while Forest triumphed 2-1 on aggregate against Porto.
Key points
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will meet in Europa League semi-finals
Villa won 7-1 on aggregate against Bologna
Forest edged past Porto with a 2-1 aggregate victory
This is Forest's first European semi-final since 1984
A Premier League team will be in the Europa League final
Aston VillaNottingham ForestBolognaPorto
Liverpool's Luis Garcia (C) celebrates scoring a goal as Chelsea's William Gallas (L) tried to clear the ball alongside Ricardo Carvalho (2nd L) in the goal while John Terry (C back) and goalkeeper Petr Cech (2nd R) and Milan Baros (R) look on
Chelsea and Liverpool met in three Champions League semi-finals between 2004-05 and 2007-08 [Getty Images]
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will meet in an all-English Europa League semi-final after both came through their quarter-final ties on Thursday.
Unai Emery's Villa continued their impressive run with a 7-1 aggregate win over Italy's Bologna, while Forest put their domestic worries to one side as they edged past Porto 2-1 on aggregate and into a European semi-final for the first time since 1984.
The tie also guarantees there will be a Premier League representative in this season's Europa League final.
From controversial semi-finals to iconic finals, English sides have crossed paths on the continental stage many times before, so here are eight of the most memorable meetings.
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Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur lifts the Europa League trophy after his team's victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United
Tottenham and Manchester United became the lowest-placed teams ever to contest a European final [Getty Images]
Last season's Europa League final offered both Tottenham and Manchester United a chance to put their dismal domestic campaigns behind them with silverware - and a route back into the Champions League - on the line.
But it was Spurs who ended their 17-year wait for a trophy as Brennan Johnson's first-half goal proved enough to pile more misery on the Red Devils, who went on to finish 15th in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim - two places above their opponents.
The long-awaited triumph, however, was not enough to save head coach Ange Postecoglou's job in north London, even though the Australian delivered on his promise to win silverware in his second season at the club.
Chelsea v Liverpool, 2004-05 Champions League semi-final
Luis Garcia of Liverpool scores during the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Semi Final between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 3, 2005
Luis Garcia fired Liverpool past Chelsea and into a major European final for the first time in 20 years [Getty Images]
Few European ties have been as emotionally charged as the 2005 Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool.
Just under two years after Roman Abramovich's takeover, Chelsea were assembling a star-studded squad under Jose Mourinho, while the Reds were seeking a return to the top of continental football after two decades.
The two-legged tie was decided by a single moment at Anfield - a controversial Luis Garcia goal.
Liverpool were adamant the ball had crossed the line before William Gallas cleared on the goalline, but those of a Chelsea persuasion vehemently disagreed. But in the pre-technology era and replays also inconclusive, only referee Lubos Michel's opinion mattered.
Liverpool went on to complete an extraordinary comeback in the final against AC Milan to lift the trophy in Istanbul, while their rivalry with Chelsea continued to grow.
Tottenham v Man City, 2018-19 Champions League quarter-final
Fernando Llorente of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Campus
Tottenham reached the semi-finals of the competition only for the second time in their history [Getty Images]
This remarkable tie was defined by chaos, controversy and drama involving the video assistant referee (VAR).
Tottenham were protecting a 1-0 lead from the first leg but an extraordinary opening 21 minutes from hosts Manchester City put them 3-2 ahead on the night.
City looked on course for the semis when Sergio Aguero crashed home a fourth goal after the break but Fernando Llorente struck 17 minutes from time, bundling in from a corner via his hip after a VAR check for handball.
More controversy followed as Raheem Sterling thought he had netted a dramatic late winner - and completed his hat-trick - only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside and send Mauricio Pochettino's side through on away goals.
Chelsea v Man City, 2020-21 Champions League final
Kai Havertz of Chelsea celebrates with the Champions League Trophy following their team's victory during the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC
Chelsea are the third English side to win the Champions League twice [Getty Images]
Manchester City were still chasing a first Champions League title under Pep Guardiola when they met domestic rivals Chelsea in the 2021 final in Porto.
But Thomas Tuchel, who had succeeded the sacked Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge in January, had other plans as the German brought European club football's biggest prize back to the club for the first time since 2012.
Kai Havertz latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Mason Mount and rounded City goalkeeper Ederson to score the only goal of the game right before half-time.
And it proved enough as Guardiola's Premier League champions failed to click as European glory again eluded them.
Man Utd v Tottenham, 1963-64 Cup Winners' Cup second round
European Cup Winners Cup Second Round First Leg match at White Hart lane. Tottenham Hotspur 2 v Manchester United 0. Action from the match, 3rd December 1963.
Manchester United overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Tottenham to win at Old Trafford [Getty Images]
The first all-English European tie came more than 60 years ago, when Manchester United faced Tottenham in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Holders Tottenham had won the first leg 2-0 in front of 57,000 at White Hart Lane to look on course to defend their title, but Manchester United - managed by the legendary Matt Busby - were given a lifeline when Spurs' Dave Mackay broke his leg early in the return leg.
Against 10 men in an era before substitutes, FA Cup winners United capitalised as David Herd scored twice to draw them level before a late double from Sir Bobby Charlton sent them through to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu
Eden Hazard spent seven years at Chelsea and won both the Premier League and Europa League twice [Getty Images]
Baku in Azerbaijan played host to an all-London Europa League final and Eden Hazard brought his Chelsea career to an end with a masterclass against Arsenal.
The Blues dominated from start to finish as Hazard, along with former Gunners striker Olivier Giroud, tormented the Gunners defence in a 4-1 victory.
The Belgian maestro scored two goals and assisted another in a farewell display before a big-money move to Real Madrid.
The win that came 2,500 miles away from the English capital was Maurizio Sarri's first trophy of his managerial career and Chelsea's second triumph in the competition, having previously won it in 2012-13.
Wolves v Tottenham, 1971-72 Uefa Cup final
Spurs captain Alan Mullery sits on the shoulders of his team-mates as he proudly holds aloft the UEFA Cup trophy on a lap of honour after the match, 17th May 1972.
Alan Mullery captained Tottenham to victory in the inaugural Uefa Cup [Getty Images]
The final of the inaugural Uefa Cup was contested by Wolves and Tottenham 54 years ago.
Winners of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1963, Spurs were favourites and won the first leg at Molineux 2-1 as Martin Chivers scored either side of Jim McCalliog's goal for the hosts.
Captain Alan Mullery then consolidated Tottenham's position in the second leg at White Hart Lane, before Wolves threatened a comeback after Dave Wagstaffe's goal, but it finished 1-1 and 3-2 to Spurs on aggregate.
While the Londoners became the first winners of the competition, now rebranded as the Europa League, the 1972 showdown remains a notable high for Wolves in Europe despite the defeat.
Chelsea v Man Utd, 2007-08 Champions League final
Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves of Manchester United celebrate after the penalty shoot-out, winning the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Luzhniki Stadium
It was Manchester United's second Champions League triumph under Sir Alex Ferguson [Getty Images]
Chelsea and Manchester United met in the first all-English final of European club football's showpiece.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed United in front but Frank Lampard equalised before the interval. Lampard and Didier Drogba hit the woodwork for the Blues before the Ivory Coast striker was sent off in extra time for slapping Nemanja Vidic.
Captain John Terry then slipped and missed the penalty that would have won Chelsea their first Champions League in the Moscow rain, before United keeper Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka to spark wild celebrations for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men.
United's third major European triumph was made all the more poignant as it came 50 years on from the Munich air crash, where eight players from the club were among the 23 killed.
