Nottingham Forest survived a scare from Fenerbahce to seal their Europa League last-16 place, advancing 4-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 defeat at the City Ground in Thursday’s second leg.
Vitor Pereira had the luxury of rotation after a 3-0 win in Istanbul last week, but the two teams produced contrasting displays. Forest made their own life harder and were punished in the 22nd minute when Fenerbahce broke ruthlessly and Kerem Akturkoglu swept home to give the visitors hope.
The match was briefly halted seconds after kick-off when sections of around 1,500 away fans threw fireworks onto the pitch inside the Forest penalty area, forcing a three-minute delay. Players including Jair Cunha and Neco Williams had to dodge pyrotechnics, while Fenerbahce’s Archie Brown carried some off the turf and urged calm.
The first half finished with no shots on target for Forest, high turnovers and lost duels. At half-time Pereira made four changes — bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangare — a gamble he later described as difficult but necessary with an important Premier League game to come.
Seconds into the second half, another poor moment cost Forest as Jair Cunha fouled Akturkoglu in the area. Following a VAR check the penalty stood, and Akturkoglu confidently converted his second of the night to level the tie on the night and give Fenerbahce real momentum.
Forest gradually settled after the substitutions. The pendulum swung when Aina’s swinging cross from the right found Hudson-Odoi, who sped past his marker and hammered home into the far corner for his first European goal of the season. The goal relieved the home crowd and effectively ended Fenerbahce’s hopes, sending Forest through to the last 16 where they will face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland.
Team news highlights: only five Forest players from the weekend loss to Liverpool started (Stefan Ortega, Murillo, Neco Williams, Elliot Anderson and Omari Hutchinson). Fenerbahce were hampered by injuries and named just five outfield players on their bench, with absentees including Ederson and Milan Skriniar.
Pereira on making so many changes: “When you change half of a team, it’s not easy to keep the level, that’s my responsibility because we have an important game in three days… It was a risk because I decided to make six changes in the team. If you have one or two changes the players can be in the middle of the others, and you don’t miss the quality… We conceded a goal and lost the confidence to play. It was difficult for me to do four subs at half-time, but I said to the players it’s my decision.”
On learnings he added that changing many players can unsettle the side under pressure but stressed the priority of managing resources ahead of the Brighton game.
Hudson-Odoi said: “We made it difficult for ourselves. When you’re in the lead you can feel a bit comfortable, but we showed a great reaction after they scored the second goal. We needed to up the levels a bit more and focus on what we know is best — that’s us on the ball, playing a high press… When we got the goal, it gave us more breathing space to attack more. No matter who comes, we’re going to be prepared and ready for the game.”
Additional notes: Nottingham Forest have now suffered two home defeats in a single major European season for the first time (they also lost 2-3 to FC Midtjylland in October). Fenerbahce recorded just their second European away win in England across all competitions (D2 L7), their first since beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Champions League in October 1996.
Europa League schedule:
– Round of 16 draw: 27 February, 12pm
– Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
– Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
– Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026
– Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)