Nottingham Forest vs Malmo: Match preview, head-to-head, team news, key players | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest take on Swedish side Malmo FF in the Europa League at the City Ground on Thursday.

Forest secured a goalless draw at SK Sturm Graz last time out, while Malmo lost 1-0 at home to Greek side Panathinaikos.

Match preview

Forest secured a 3-0 win at Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

They now have to build on that result to beat Malmo and move up the Europa League standings.

Forest started the competition poorly, but have turned the tide under manager Sean Dyche. They have picked up four points in two matches to sit in one of the play-off spots.

Dyche has reinstalled confidence in this Forest side and will now aim for a top-eight finish, helping them advance directly to the round of 16.

Malmo have not won in the competition, and a defeat would increase their chances of elimination.

They have scored just twice and conceded seven goals. They need a significant improvement at both ends of the pitch to save their European ambitions.

Head-to-head

Forest have faced Malmo three times in Europe, winning two and losing one.

Team news

Forest’s Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz, Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa and Angus Gunn are sidelined with injuries.

The visitors will be without Arnor Sigurdsson, Gentian Lajqi and Erik Botheim. Daniel Gudjohnsen returns from suspension.

Key players

Nottingham Forest

Elliot Anderson: Impressed again versus Liverpool and is expected to play a key role for Forest in this game.

Igor Jesus: Joint top-scorer in the competition with three goals.

Malmo

Oscar Lewicki: Has one goal to his name in the competition, and is one of the best players in the competition for the Swedish side.

Melker Ellborg: He ranks seventh for goals prevented, underlining his impressive shot-stopping ability.

Stats from 11v11.com & sofascore.com.