Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction

Nottingham Forest welcome Fenerbahce to the City Ground for the second leg of their Europa League play-off tie on Thursday.

The Tricky Trees claimed a 3-0 victory in the first leg of their tie last week, and the winners will face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland in the last 16.

Match preview

Forest kick-started the Vitor Pereira era with a comfortable 3-0 victory in Istanbul last Thursday, following Sean Dyche’s dismissal.

Murillo struck first in the 21st minute, before Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White completed the scoring as Forest recorded their biggest ever away win in European competition.

Pereira hoped to continue a perfect start to life at Forest when they hosted Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, but Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute winner secured all three points for the visitors.

Forest are languishing in 17th place in the Premier League standings, two points above the drop zone.

Fenerbahce were held to a 1-1 draw by Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday.

The Yellow Canaries have moved within two points of league leaders Galatasaray, who were beaten by Konyaspor, as they aim to clinch their first title since 2014.

Team news

The hosts will be without Chris Wood, John Victor, Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona due to injuries, while winter signing Luca Netz is ineligible for this fixture.

Milan Skriniar, Anderson Talisca, Caglar Soyuncu, Edson Alvarez and Ederson are sidelined for Fenerbahce.

Fred and Jayden Oosterwolde are suspended, while Anthony Musaba and Mert Gunok are ineligible after being left out of the club’s Europa League squad.

Predicted line-ups

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Ortega, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Anderson, Sangare, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus.

Fenerbahce (4-3-3): Cetin, Semedo, Demir, Efe, Muldur, Brown, Guendouzi, Kante, Asensio, Cherif, Akturkoglu.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Fenerbahce.