Nottingham Forest host FC Midtjylland on the Metropolis Floor on Thursday evening within the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
The Premier League facet will even be looking for revenge after struggling a 3-2 house defeat in opposition to the Danish membership earlier within the competitors through the League Section.
Forest are competing in European soccer for the primary time in additional than 30 years, however they have been unable to safe automated qualification for the final 16. The Tough Timber completed thirteenth within the League Section after recording 4 wins, two attracts and two defeats throughout their eight matches.
That meant a playoff tie in opposition to Turkish giants Fenerbahce, however Forest produced a formidable show throughout the 2 legs. A shock 3-0 victory away from house within the first leg put them firmly in management earlier than a 2-1 defeat within the return fixture nonetheless noticed them progress 4-2 on combination.
Nevertheless, Forest’s kind has dipped since that success. They’re presently on a four-match winless run in all competitions, which features a 2-1 defeat away to Brighton and a 2-2 draw in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
These outcomes have left them hovering simply above the Premier League relegation zone on purpose distinction, that means home survival stays the membership’s primary precedence.
However, Forest will nonetheless purpose to make progress in Europe and are trying to succeed in the quarter-finals of a European competitors for the primary time for the reason that 1995-96 UEFA Cup.
Midtjylland have been one of many shock groups of this season’s Europa League. The Danish facet completed third within the 36-team League Section desk after amassing 19 factors from their eight matches to safe automated qualification for the final 16.
They recorded victories in opposition to Forest, Sturm Graz, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Celtic, Genk and Dinamo Zagreb through the group stage, with their solely defeat coming away to Roma.
Group information for Nottingham Forest v FC Midtjylland
Nottingham Forest can be with out a number of gamers attributable to damage. Chris Wooden, Nicolo Savona, John Victor and Willy Boly are all sidelined with knee issues.
January signing Luca Netz can also be unavailable as he was not included within the membership’s Europa League squad.
Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is being assessed forward of kickoff after lacking the draw in opposition to Manchester Metropolis with a calf subject. If he’s unavailable, Matz Sels is able to proceed in purpose.
Vitor Pereira might recall Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson to offer pure width in assault, whereas Igor Jesus is anticipated to guide the road. The Brazilian has scored seven objectives in eight Europa League matches this season.
Midtjylland can be with out prime scorer Franculino, who has 21 objectives this season however is sidelined via damage. Mikel Gogorza can also be unavailable, whereas winger Dario Osorio is suspended attributable to an accumulation of yellow playing cards.
Junior Brumado and Gue-sung Cho are among the many gamers competing for a spot in assault, whereas Kevin Mbabu and Philip Billing are anticipated to retain their positions within the beginning lineup.
Anticipated line-ups for Nottingham Forest v FC Midtjylland
Nottingham Forest: Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
FC Midtjylland: Olafsson; Erlic, Bech Sorensen, Diao; Mbabu, Billing, Castillo, Bak; Simsir; Cho, Brumado
The place to observe Nottingham Forest v FC Midtjylland: TV channel, on-line stream
The match can be proven dwell in the UK on TNT Sports activities.
Followers can even stream the match on-line utilizing the Discovery+ platform throughout cellular gadgets, tablets and good TVs.
Kickoff on the Metropolis Floor is scheduled for 8:00pm GMT on Thursday.
The stats for Nottingham Forest v FC Midtjylland
- Nottingham Forest completed thirteenth within the Europa League League Section
- Forest defeated Fenerbahce 4-2 on combination within the playoff spherical
- Midtjylland completed third within the League Section with 19 factors
- The Danish facet beat Forest 3-2 earlier within the competitors
- Three or extra objectives have been scored in seven of Forest’s Europa League matches this season
Prediction for Nottingham Forest v FC Midtjylland
Nottingham Forest
2
–
1
FC Midtjylland
Either side have proven an inclination to be concerned in high-scoring Europa League matches this season, and Midtjylland already demonstrated their attacking risk in opposition to Forest earlier within the marketing campaign. The hosts will hope house benefit helps them acquire management of the tie, with a tricky away journey up subsequent.
