Nottm Forest Vs Fenerbahçe: Forest progress 4-2 on aggregate as arrests follow flare disturbances
In a nervy Europa League playoff second leg, nottm forest vs fenerbahçe ended 1-2 on the night but Nottingham Forest advanced 4-2 on aggregate to reach the competition's last 16. The tie combined dramatic on-field moments — a Kerem Aktürkoglu double and a decisive Callum Hudson-Odoi strike — with crowd disturbances that led to three arrests after the match.
Narrow progression and Hudson-Odoi’s key finish
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored what was described as his sixth goal of the season to restore Forest’s aggregate cushion, his low finish arriving 22 minutes from time (the 68th minute) and ultimately killing Fenerbahçe’s comeback bid. Despite losing 2-1 on the night, Nottingham Forest reached the Europa League last 16 on a 4-2 aggregate scoreline and will now face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland.
Aktürkoglu double, early break and the penalty that tightened the tie
Kerem Aktürkoglu struck twice for Fenerbahçe, first from a 22nd-minute breakaway set up by Sidiki Cherif's run down the right and then from the penalty spot 25 seconds after the restart when Jair Cunha tripped Aktürkoglu. The second strike included the spot-kick conversion that threatened to erase Forest’s 3-0 first-leg lead and raised anxiety around the City Ground.
Manager moves: six pre-match changes, four at half-time and the substitutes who turned it
Vitor Pereira had made six changes following the side's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, and then made four changes at half-time, withdrawing James McAtee and Ryan Yates. He brought on Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangaré at the interval in an effort to regain control. Elliot Anderson had earlier gone close with a shot that missed, and Omari Hutchinson was denied late on by goalkeeper Tarik Cetin after running clean through.
Pitch disturbances, a 1, 500-strong away end and three arrests
The match was disrupted by pyrotechnics: players had to dodge fireworks thrown onto the pitch and the game was stopped for more than three minutes immediately after kick-off as sections of a 1, 500-strong away end deployed fireworks. Nottinghamshire Police said multiple small flares had been lit in the away end and the match was delayed for several minutes in the first half while thrown items were removed.
Police made three arrests after the fixture. A 37-year-old man was arrested after a flare was reportedly thrown by Fenerbahçe fans towards the home end. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward, and a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of going onto the playing area at a designated football match. A section of seating in the away end was also discovered to have been damaged after fans left the area at the end of the game.
Supt Louise Clarke said investigators are examining the incidents, are working closely with both clubs, and will analyse all available footage to help identify anyone involved. Separate investigations are ongoing into each incident, and police are appealing for information in relation to a number of incidents inside the ground.
Reactions, context and what comes next in Europe and the league
Vitor Pereira said the side had played under pressure and described the tie as a thriller, stressing he had taken a calculated risk with his team changes because he was also thinking about the Premier League trip to Brighton on Sunday. He added that Forest have ambition in the Europa League but are not comfortable in the Premier League table and need points to avoid a difficult situation.
Fenerbahçe coach Domenico Tedesco said his players could be proud of their personality and belief, noting that they had underperformed in the tie overall and must accept elimination with their heads up. Forest will now await whether they meet Real Betis — against whom they drew 2-2 in Spain during the league phase — or FC Midtjylland, who beat them in October and whose victory helped spark Ange Postecoglou's departure.
