Vitor Pereira’s Nottingham Forest debut in Istanbul as crystal palace promotion fires up betting markets
Nottingham Forest travel to Fenerbahce for the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff with a new manager in the dugout, while betting activity around midweek ties has surged — highlighted by a bet £10 get £40 free-bets promotion tied to Zrinjski Mostar v crystal palace and an 11/1 Conference League accumulator making the rounds. The Forest v Fenerbahce tie kicks off on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 12: 45 PM ET from the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
New era at Forest — Pereira's first test and tactical flags to watch
Vitor Pereira will take charge of Nottingham Forest for the first time in competitive action when his side face Fenerbahce in Turkey. The Portuguese coach arrives on an 18-month contract and becomes the club’s fourth head coach of the season after a rocky league campaign that included recent defeats and a goalless draw that prompted another reset. Pereira’s immediate challenge is to steady a squad that finished 13th in the Europa League group phase and now navigates knockout football in unfamiliar surroundings.
Pereira knows the opponent well: he has managed Fenerbahce across two separate spells, offering him rare first-hand insight into the Turkish side ahead of Thursday’s meeting. Forest will hope momentum from a 4-0 Europa League victory over Ferencvaros — a match in which Igor Jesus netted and scored prolifically in this competition — can carry through. Jesus enters the tie with six Europa League goals in six appearances this season and is expected to be central to Forest’s counter-attacking outlets if Pereira opts for a pragmatic start.
From a betting and tactical perspective, match trends point toward goals: Fenerbahce have seen both teams score in four of their last five matches, and Forest have conceded and scored in two of their last three. Fenerbahce’s last two matches also cleared the over 2. 5 goals line, underlining a recent tendency for open games that could shape Pereira’s first tactical plans.
Markets heat up: Zrinjski Mostar v crystal palace offer and Thursday acca
Bookmakers are leaning into midweek interest with a variety of promotions and multi-bet options. A high-profile offer around Zrinjski Mostar v crystal palace gives bettors a bet £10 and receive £40 in free bets — a clear incentive for casual customers to engage with that fixture. Separately, an 11/1 Conference League accumulator for Thursday night has been highlighted by tipsters and has attracted attention from punters looking to combine several lower-risk selections into a tempting return.
For those backing trends, the Forest v Fenerbahce match presents several accessible markets: both-teams-to-score, over 2. 5 goals and backing Igor Jesus as a goalscorer have all been flagged as value plays given recent form. However, team news and potential rotations could swing outcomes — managers often rotate in midweek European ties — so confirmed lineups will be crucial for goal-scorer and prop markets. Bettors are advised to check official lineups roughly 60–75 minutes before kickoff to confirm starters and last-minute changes.
Fenerbahce arrive in confident domestic form, unbeaten in four straight Super Lig wins that keep them within three points of the leaders, and will expect an attacking display at home. That combination of home momentum and Forest’s recent defensive fragility underlines why bookmakers and tipsters are leaning into goal-focused markets for this tie.
Thursday’s schedule offers a mix of managerial intrigue and promotional activity that has sharpened betting interest across competitions. Whether Pereira’s first steps in charge lead to an immediate statement in Istanbul, or whether Fenerbahce’s domestic rhythm proves decisive, will be clear once the final whistle falls and teams regroup for the return leg at the City Ground next week.
