Nottingham Forest Hosts Fenerbahce in Europa League Last-16 Second Leg
Nottingham Forest and Fenerbahce are set to clash in the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie on February 26th at The City Ground in Nottingham. Italian referee Maurizio Mariani will officiate the match, which is highly anticipated by fans eager to see who will advance to the next stage of the continental competition.
This encounter marks the decisive second leg between the two sides. The first leg, held on February 19th at the Ülker Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, saw a clear English dominance. Nottingham Forest secured a commanding 3-0 away victory, giving them a significant advantage heading into the return fixture in front of their home supporters.
The hosts enter this match with a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five outings across all competitions. Fenerbahce, in the same period, has achieved three wins, one draw, and one defeat. Historically, Nottingham Forest holds the advantage, having won the only previous direct encounter between the two clubs, with no draws or victories for the Turkish side recorded to date.
Nottingham Forest is expected to field a starting lineup featuring goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno, defender Nikola Milenkovic, and Callum Hudson-Odoi in attack, adopting a 4-2-3-1 tactical formation. The hosts will be without several key players due to injury, including goalkeeper Matz Sels, who is anticipated to return in a week, and Nicolo Savona, whose readiness is uncertain. Additionally, Chris Wood is sidelined until mid-April, and Willy Boly is out until the end of May.
For Fenerbahce, the trio of Nelson Semedo, Matteo Guendouzi, and Marco Asensio are highlighted as key available players in the coach's starting squad, which will also adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation. The visitors face significant numerical disadvantages due to Fred's suspension. Talisca, Ederson Moraes, and Jayden Oosterwolde are also out with injuries, though all are expected to return to action by mid-March.
The match will be broadcast live and exclusively on beIN Sports 1 and the beIN Sports CONNECT Platform.
