Nottingham Forest
- Fenerbahce SK were hot favourites to win in Europe before facing Nottingham Forest in the first-leg of this tie, but the Turkish giants were outclassed by Vítor Pereira’s side in Istanbul and are likely to have to launch a miracle comeback at the City Ground to get through to the UEFA Europa League 2025-2026 last 16.
- Forest sit one place above the relegation zone in the Premier League with 27 points from 27 games, but they showed their European class in the Turkish heat last Thursday and should have the confidence to finish the job in the home leg.
Fenerbahçe
- Domenico Tedesco has delivered silverware on the domestic front, but has made his Fener side tough to watch in a high-tempo, pressing scheme that relies on wide wing backs, coordinated pressing and rapid counter attacks.
- The system has worked well for the Turks, who sat second in the Süper Lig with 52 points from 22 matches, but it was undone by Forest’s pressing selection and vertical attacks in the last game.
Key Players
- Pereira’s Forest are missing Chris Wood and Willy Boly through injury.
- Pereira rotated the squad well in the first-leg and should name a strong XI to try and put the game beyond doubt on Thursday.
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Sub-list of key players:
- Igor Jesus has scored six goals in this competition for Forest and scored a crucial strike in Istanbul.
- Morgan Gibbs-White is the creative heartbeat of the team, with the midfielder always making runs in behind and delivering quality balls into the box.
- Murillo scored the opener in the away leg and could be a threat again from set pieces and driving out from the back.
- Kerem Aktürkoğlu is Fenerbahçe’s in-form player and will cause Forest problems when wide.
- Anderson Talisca and Marco Asensio add European pedigree to their attack and could also be a set-piece threat.
Betting Insights
- The hosts are priced at 1.77 to win, which looks a little short considering the 3 - 0 aggregate score-line, with Fenerbahçe 4.3 outsiders.
- Both Teams to Score 1.77 is listed for this game and that seems a fair price, as the visitors will have to throw men forward and chase the game, while Forest have an excellent counter-attacking threat.
- Pereira’s disciplined approach to the defensive shape and his team’s set-piece quality should keep it relatively tight, and the forecast of cool and damp weather in Nottingham will make this a scrappy, physical game.
Prediction
Forest should have the quality to nick a goal and finish the business at the other end.
