Nervy Forest Hold On at City Ground as Europa League Last 16 Place Is Secured

Nottingham Forest progressed from the knockout round playoff after a 1-2 home defeat by Fenerbahce, edging through to the last 16 of the europa league in a match that swung wildly and left supporters breathless. Callum Hudson-Odoi scored what was described as his sixth goal of the season to calm fears after Kerem Akturkoglu’s double — including a second-half penalty — threatened to overturn Forest’s earlier advantage.

Europa League: How the tie unfolded

The second leg at the City Ground saw Fenerbahce strike on 22 minutes when Forest were caught on the break, allowing Kerem Akturkoglu to fire in and put the hosts under pressure. Elliot Anderson went close with a shot wide as Forest struggled to recover. At half-time the manager made changes; one live account notes four substitutions at the break, and that James McAtee and Ryan Yates were withdrawn after an ineffective first half.

Twenty-five seconds after the restart Jair Cunha conceded a penalty when he tripped Akturkoglu; the striker converted the spot-kick to deepen the anxiety. A half-time substitute, Callum Hudson-Odoi, later made a low finish 22 minutes from the end to restore Forest’s aggregate advantage. Late in the game Omari Hutchinson broke clean through but was denied by Tarik Cetin.

Coverage of the overall tie includes two differing aggregate totals in the provided context: one account lists Forest advancing 4-2 on aggregate; another lists them advancing 4-3 on aggregate. This discrepancy is unclear in the provided context.

Managerial decisions and reactions

Forest’s head coach, Vitor Pereira, acknowledged the pressure of the fixture and described the match as thriller-like with suspense. He made six changes following a Sunday 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, explaining that his selection risk was influenced by the need to prepare for the upcoming Premier League trip to Brighton on Sunday and to preserve energy for that match. Pereira stressed the club’s ambition in the competition and the importance of collecting Premier League points to avoid a difficult situation in the table.

Fenerbahce fightback and coach response

Fenerbahce coach Domenico Tedesco said he was proud of his team’s personality and belief. He reflected that at home his side lost qualification, noted that a recent change of coach influenced performances, and accepted that Fenerbahce were out of the competition while remaining with their heads held high. The theatrics of Forest’s season meant Fenerbahce made the tie uncomfortable.

Late-match moments and live-blog detail

Minute-by-minute detail in provided coverage highlights late frisson: at 88 minutes an Asensio drive was saved by an Ortega spill; at 89 minutes Anderson fed Hutchinson whose finish was telegraphed and struck Tarik; four additional minutes were signalled at 90. A late sequence described Hutchinson sliding a pass for Jesus, with Tariq coming out smartly; the live coverage cut off mid-sequence. One live commentator wound up their coverage with a sign-off.

The live-blog material also threaded wider observations: reflections on other European sides and managers were noted, with mentions of Roma, Lyon and Stuttgart, a judgement that Villa are among the strongest remaining teams, and a nod to Porto and manager Francesco Farioli as teams to watch. Turkish football was discussed in the live narrative, naming Fenerbache, Galatasaray and Samsunspor as clubs stirring in the competition. A parallel aggregate update in live coverage cited Palace leading Zrinjski 2-1 on aggregate late in another fixture.

What comes next: Midtjylland or Real Betis?

Forest will next face either FC Midtjylland — the side that beat Forest in October and is identified in the context as having set in motion Ange Postecoglou’s downfall — or Real Betis, against whom Forest drew 2-2 in Spain during the league phase. The exact opponent will be decided by the other knockout fixture; this is noted alongside the match outcome in the provided coverage.

Players referenced and match context

• Nottingham Forest scorers and contributors mentioned: Callum Hudson-Odoi (sixth goal of the season), Elliot Anderson, James McAtee, Ryan Yates, Omari Hutchinson.
• Fenerbahce contributors mentioned: Kerem Akturkoglu (two goals, one a penalty), Jair Cunha, Tarik Cetin.
• Managers and figures mentioned: Vitor Pereira, Domenico Tedesco, Ange Postecoglou, Francesco Farioli, Kári Tulinius (live-blog commentator).
• Other teams referenced: FC Midtjylland, Real Betis, Liverpool, Brighton, Roma, Lyon, Stuttgart, Villa, Porto, Palace, Zrinjski, Fenerbache, Galatasaray, Samsunspor.

Details in the provided context are comprehensive but include a noted inconsistency in aggregate totals; that point is highlighted above as unclear in the provided context. The match on Feb 26, 2026 at the City Ground therefore delivers progression for Nottingham Forest amid fresh questions about form and selection as the club balances domestic fixtures and European ambitions.