Midtjylland (home)
- FC Midtjylland are set to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League 2025-2026 with a 1 - 0 aggregate lead, superior home form and momentum in their favor, although the pressure will be on them to finish the job against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
- Mike Tullberg has done a remarkable job at Midtjylland since taking over as head coach in September 2025, implementing a high-energy, high-pressure game that suits his players.
- Midtjylland press relentlessly, play a vertical passing game, create overloads in wide areas and have implemented several set-piece routines based on analytics to get the extra edge.
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Recent form:
- Midtjylland have won four and tied one of their last five matches in all competitions.
- They scored 14 goals in that run and kept two shutouts in the last three.
Nottingham Forest (away)
- Nottingham Forest are 18th in the Premier League on 28 points from 29 games.
- The Portuguese has implemented a much more pragmatic system than the previous three managers, with the team set up to play a more structured game, emphasizing structured possession, disciplined transitions and adaptability.
- Igor Jesus is the top scorer in all competitions for the Forest and will be their main goal threat on Thursday.
- Morgan Gibbs-White is the creative engine of the team and drives most of their chance creation.
Head-to-Head
Midtjylland have won both UEFA Europa League 2025-26 matches against Forest this season (3-2 at the City Ground in the league phase and 1-0 away in the round of 16 first leg).
Key Players
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Midtjylland:
- Franculino Djú is the Danish side’s top scorer in the Superliga and Europa League, the Brazilian forward is pacey and has a clinical finish on him.
- Aral Şimşir and Júnior Brumado add even more spark and pace to the hosts’ attack and will stretch the Forest defense at pace.
- Cho Gue-sung, who scored Midtjylland’s only goal in the first leg, is a big targetman and excellent from set-pieces.
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Nottingham Forest:
- Igor Jesus is the main goal threat for Forest.
- Morgan Gibbs-White drives most of Forest’s chance creation.
- Matz Sels has been a savior in goal for Forest.
Betting Insights
- Forest are slight underdogs at 2.06 with the hosts at 3.3 and the draw at 3.6.
- Both teams to score - Yes at 1.62 is a very short price considering Forest trail 1 - 0 on aggregate.
- The market reflects Forest needing to chase the game and Midtjylland’s tendency to play on the front foot.
Prediction
- A low-scoring tie or a one-goal win for the home side seems the most likely outcome here, as the Danes continue their fairy-tale Europa League adventure.
- Midtjylland’s energetic style and Forest’s lapses in concentration make both teams to score a plausible angle.
