Nottingham Forest predicted XI vs FC Midtjylland: Tricky Trees fight to keep European dream alive | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest head to Denmark on Thursday night with their Europa League hopes hanging by a thread.

A narrow 1-0 defeat at the City Ground last week leaves Forest needing a response against FC Midtjylland at MCH Arena.

With relegation concerns mounting domestically, Europe now offers struggling Forest an escape and a lifeline.

Match preview

Forest’s issues are becoming painfully familiar – control without conviction.

The Tricky Trees fired 22 shots in the first leg but failed to score, a theme that carried into their goalless draw with Fulham at the weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s side is creating, but not converting. The Portuguese tactician made a flying start with a 3-0 win over Fenerbahce, but momentum has stalled.

Forest are now winless in six matches across all competitions, drifting back into trouble at the worst possible time of the season.

However, there is a flicker of hope on the road. Forest have scored nine goals in their last five away games and have already picked up two wins on their Europa League travels.

Midtjylland are ruthless. Efficient in the first leg, they punished Forest with one of just two shots on target.

The visitors must now match that cutting edge to keep their campaign alive.

Match stats

Forest have lost both meetings with Midtjylland this season, each by a single-goal margin. The Tricky Trees are winless in six matches in all competitions (D2, L4).

They have scored just one goal from their last 99 attempts across five home games. However, Forest have won two of their last three Europa League away matches.

Midtjylland have won seven of their nine Europa League games this season (D1, L1) and finished third in the league phase.

Nottingham Forest team news

‘Young talent’ Jair Cunha remains sidelined after picking up a foot injury in the first leg.

Stefan Ortega is still out, while Chris Wood, Willy Boly, Nicolo Savona and John Victor are all unavailable with knee problems. Luca Netz is ineligible for this competition.

Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic and Ibrahim Sangare are all pushing for recalls after starting on the bench last week.

Nottingham Forest predicted XI (4-2-3-1)

Matz Sels; Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams; Ibrahim Sangare, Elliot Anderson; Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.