Nottingham Forest Return to the City Ground for Europa League Clash vs FC Midtjylland | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest made their return to European football last week after generations away when they travelled to Seville to face Real Betis, which ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla.

This week they see the City Ground return to the European stage when they welcome FC Midtjylland on Thursday night. It will be the first time in almost thirty years that Nottingham Forest’s home ground will see European football under the lights, with the last time being that infamous thrashing by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup way back in the 1995/96 season under Frank Clark.

Last time out

Nottingham Forest’s last game in the Europa League saw them draw away at Real Betis, 2-2, with goals coming from Igor Jesus (x2) for Forest and Cedric Bakambu and Antony for Betis.

In terms of how Forest played in the first half, it was definitely the best they have played under Ange Postecoglou since the former Tottenham coach was appointed. It had control, it had intensity, it had physicality and consistent chance creation. Players understood their roles, they were making runs off the ball to receive in good areas or to create space for others. Real Betis just couldn’t handle the rhythm and intensity of the way Forest were playing and really they should’ve scored more than two in that half. Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz were the two that really stood out.

The 2nd half, however, was different for Forest. They took Douglas Luiz off to get Dilane Bakwa on the right. But as a consequence of the change Ange made, Forest lost the control and the rhythm that Nottingham Forest used to dominate Betis in the first half. With the tempo dropping, the physicality not quite the same, and rhythm being near nonexistent, it allowed Real Betis to take control of things and play the way they wanted to and eventually, through Antony, they found a way through to get the equaliser. Zinchenko is partly to blame for failing to stay on the Brazilian to stop him from scoring.

FC Midtjylland also played last Wednesday in the Europa League in the early kick-off when they welcomed Sturm Graz, winning 2-0 thanks to an Oliver Christensen own goal and an Ousmane Diao goal.

Midtjylland had a really positive start to the game, taking control of possession and progressing it forward centrally and occasionally in wider areas too. They got themselves a corner after 6 minutes and that’s where the goal came from in the 7th minute. Sturm Graz fail to deal with it, making a total mess of things really and it goes in off the goalkeeper. What didn’t make sense at the time was that the referee gave a foul so initially it didn’t stand, but after VAR had a look at it, the goal was eventually awarded. The referee thought there was a foul but it was clear there was nothing wrong with it.

Midtjylland maintained that strong start and control into the 2nd half; Sturm Graz did improve a bit and had some good chances. But eventually the Danish side sealed it with Ousmane Diao heading home. But again tbr goalkeeper has to be questioned because it wasn’t a great header; it had accuracy but not loads of power and should’ve been stopped.

Team news

Ange Postecoglou held his press conference earlier today and he confirmed Nottingham Forest will be without Oleksandr Zinchenko due to him having soreness in his groin.

The good news for Forest is that Murillo is back after his injury, which he suffered in Postecoglou’s first game in charge against Arsenal.

FC Midtjylland could be without Mikel Gogorza and Ovie Ejeheri, who are doubtful for the game.

Predicted line-ups

Nottingham Forest – Sels, Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus

FC Midtjylland – Olafsson, Diao, Erlic, Mads Bech Sørensen, Mbabu, Denil Castillo, Billing, Paulinho, Simsir, Brumado, Franculino

Other key information

When is the game? Thursday, 2nd October 2035

Where is the game? City Ground, Nottingham, England

How to watch from home (In the UK): TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

Kick-off time: 20.00 BST

It’s going to be an absolutely electric night on Thursday when the Nottingham Forest players walk out to the pitch and it’ll be one you won’t want to miss, with Nottingham Forest also still searching for a first win under Ange Postecoglou.