Aston Villa vs Nottingham Prediction & Betting Tips (3 January)

The missed start of the championship is now far away for Aston Villa who have completely returned to the Premier League. Indeed, the Birmingham-based team now occupies 3rd place in the Premier League, 3 points behind 1st place. After a 1-0 loss to Liverpool at the start of November, the Villans went on to win 8 games in a row in the league. They notably dominated Manchester United 2-1 and Chelsea last weekend 1-2. This week, Aston Villa traveled to the upcoming leader Arsenal. Less prominent compared to the previous year, Nottingham Forest is currently 17th in the Premier League and is 5 points ahead of the first relegation team.

The arrival on the bench of Sean Dyche allowed the club to escape the red zone. However, Morgan Gibbs-White's teammates restarted a negative dynamic after a convincing success against Tottenham 3-0. Indeed, they lost to Fulham 1-0 and Manchester City last weekend 1-2. This week, Nottingham Forest hosted Everton. 

Both teams come into this fixture with contrasting motivations but equally compelling narratives. Villa’s recent seven‑match winning streak across competitions earlier in the springPremier League demonstrated their ability to control games through midfield dominance and quick interchanges in the final third. Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, have leaned heavily on their pace in wide areas and their ability to unsettle opponents late in matches, as seen in their December comebackPremier League. The tactical battle promises to be shaped by Villa’s structured buildup play against Forest’s more direct, counter‑oriented approach. With both sides having shared tightly contested matches this season, the margins once again appear slim.

As for the prediction, the momentum and overall squad cohesion seem to tilt the balance toward Aston Villa. Their recent performances, especially the early‑goal patterns and improved defensive organization, suggest they may be able to impose themselves more effectively this time around. Forest’s unpredictability and late‑game threat cannot be dismissed, but Villa’s home form and attacking rhythm give them a clearer edge. With all factors considered, the most reasonable expectation for this matchup is a 3–1 scoreline in favor of Aston Villa, reflecting both their current trajectory and the competitive nature of recent meetings.

• Summary: Aston Villa is going head to head with Nottingham Forest starting on 3 Jan 2026 at 12:30 UTC at Villa Park stadium, Birmingham city, England. The match is a part of the Premier League .
• Referee: Simon Hooper
• Aston Villa Feedinco Rating: 6.81
• Nottingham Feedinco Rating: 6.74