Why Tottenham may benefit from Forest vs Aston Villa scoreline in Europa League semi

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Tottenham Hotspur may have seen their hopes of Premier League survival slightly boosted following a result in the Europa League between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur’s fight for Premier League survival could very well go down to the wire, but that remains contingent on the North London side staying within touching distance of the clubs immediately above them.

At the moment, the battle to avoid the drop is being contested by Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, West Ham United and Spurs, as these are the sides for whom it remains mathematically possible to be relegated.

This week is definitely crucial for each side involved in the scrap, with Spurs facing Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest away to Chelsea, Leeds United taking on Burnley and West Ham United clashing with Brentford.

Every result across these fixtures will have a profound impact on the look of the bottom three by Sunday evening.

Daniel Farke’s side certainly appears to have the easier of the fixtures as they take on an already relegated Burnley side, whose manager has recently stepped down.

Conversely, West Ham will have their work cut out against a Brentford team chasing a European spot, while Forest face a stern test against Chelsea, and Tottenham must be at their absolute best to secure a result in Birmingham.

However, Villa and Forest’s latest result in the Europa League could now serve as a boost for Spurs as we approach the business end of the Premier League season.

Tottenham may benefit as Aston Villa suffer Europa League defeat

Aston Villa’s defeat in their first-leg semi-final tie against Nottingham Forest in the Europa League could well prove to be the perfect result for Spurs heading into the weekend.

Unai Emery’s men are currently in a comfortable position in the Premier League, sitting eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion with only four games remaining, which more or less guarantees a Champions League berth.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
4	LiverpoolLiverpool	34	17	7	10	57	44	13	58
5	Aston VillaAston Villa	34	17	7	10	47	42	5	58
6	BrightonBrighton	34	13	11	10	48	39	9	50

Despite their strong league standing, there is no denying that securing silverware after a thirty-year wait would be the icing on the cake for Emery, who has done a superb job since taking charge of the club.

However, that ambition is now under threat after Nottingham Forest managed to secure a 1-0 victory in the first leg.

Unai Emery opted for a full-strength line-up in the encounter, starting key individuals including Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa as he desperately chased a first-leg advantage.

This situation could now play directly into the hands of Spurs as they gear up to face a side dealing with the physical and mental strain of a demanding European outing only three days prior.

Emery will also have one eye on the return leg and may be tempted to field a slightly rotated side against Tottenham, which would theoretically make the task easier for the men under De Zerbi.

Spurs must be sharp from the first whistle to capitalise on any signs of fatigue and secure all three points in their pursuit of safety.

Spurs target Nottingham Forest gap as Roberto De Zerbi eyes Villa Park result

The historical record for Tottenham away at Villa Park is another significant bonus and one they can draw considerable confidence from as they prepare for the trip.

However, the Lilywhites cannot rely on their own performance alone and will need results elsewhere to go in their favour if they are to climb out of the relegation zone.

The ongoing involvement of Nottingham Forest in the Europa League could also work in the favour of Spurs, as the attention of the Tricky Trees is divided between domestic and continental commitments.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
16	Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest	34	10	9	15	41	45	-4	39
17	West HamWest Ham	34	9	9	16	42	58	-16	36
18	TottenhamTottenham	34	8	10	16	43	53	-10	34
19	BurnleyBurnley	34	4	8	22	34	68	-34	20
20	WolvesWolves	34	3	8	23	24	62	-38	17

Vítor Pereira’s squad has exerted significant energy in Europe and could well struggle against a Chelsea side looking to finish their own season on a high.

Should they drop points this weekend and Spurs secure a victory, the gap between themselves and Forest would be reduced to just two points.

Following their meeting with Chelsea, the Tricky Tress will again face Aston Villa in the return leg before a tricky encounter with Newcastle United.

With movement at the bottom of the table looking increasingly likely, Spurs must be on guard to capitalise on any potential slip-ups from their relegation rivals during these final weeks.

• READ MORE: Tottenham’s final four Premier League fixtures compared to West Ham and Forest