Nottingham Forest reach Europa League last 16 after 2-1 loss to Fenerbahce (4-2 agg)
Nottingham Forest survived a tense night to reach the last 16 of the europa league despite losing 2-1 to Fenerbahce at the City Ground, progressing 4-2 on aggregate after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 68th-minute strike.
How the tie unfolded
Fenerbahce’s Kerem Aktürkoglu scored twice to put the hosts under pressure, the first coming on the break in the 22nd minute when Sidiki Cherif broke down the right and picked out a pass that Aktürkoglu slammed home. The match was stopped for more than three minutes immediately after kick-off as Forest players had to dodge fireworks thrown onto the pitch from sections of a 1, 500-strong away end. Elliot Anderson almost replied for Forest when he waltzed into the area and fired just wide before half-time.
Half-time changes and key substitutes
Vitor Pereira made four changes at the break, withdrawing James McAtee and Ryan Yates, and at half-time introduced Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangaré. Just 25 seconds after the restart Jair Cunha tripped Akturkoglu and the striker converted the penalty to make it 2-0 on the night, raising the anxiety in the crowd. The substitutes combined in the 68th minute (22 minutes from the end) when Aina’s cross found Hudson-Odoi at the far post and his low shot went into the bottom corner; it was Hudson-Odoi’s sixth goal of the season.
Europa League last-16 draw and what it sets up
Forest’s 4-2 aggregate progression sets up a last-16 tie against either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis; FC Midtjylland beat Forest in October, a result that sparked Ange Postecoglou’s downfall, while Forest drew 2-2 with Real Betis in Spain during the league phase. One live blog in the build-up incorrectly stated that Forest moved on 4-3 on aggregate, but the match finished with Forest advancing 4-2 on aggregate.
Tension at the City Ground and the visitors’ troubles
The match had a fraught atmosphere: parts of the away end threw fireworks, delaying play, and Fenerbahce arrived in the tie amid an injury crisis, missing goalkeeper Ederson and able to name only seven substitutes. Forest were caught out by a high line at 22 minutes and had further scares when Oguz Aydin latched on to a misplaced Omari Hutchinson pass and when Cherif had chances that either hit the side netting or were saved by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Late on, Omari Hutchinson raced through but was denied by Tarik Cetin; a live update also noted 'Tariq is out smartly' during that sequence.
What the result means for Forest domestically
Despite progressing in Europe, Forest’s domestic situation remains precarious: Pereira is only two weeks into his reign after being parachuted in to replace Sean Dyche this month, and Forest are two points above the relegation zone with 11 games left. Pereira had the option of resting Morgan Gibbs-White, Nikola Milenkovic and Hudson-Odoi after last week’s 3-0 first-leg win in Istanbul, but he needed to call on all three to secure Forest’s first European knockout victory for 30 years.
Forest now prepare to face either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis next in the Europa League last 16; Pereira and his squad will balance that tie with a stretch of 11 Premier League games remaining as they fight to secure their top-flight status.
