Nottingham Forest host Fenerbahce in the second leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Europa League Knockout Playoff tie.
With a 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, Forest will advance if avoid defeat or lose by a two-goal margin or less.
Fenerbahce meanwhile must win by a four-goal margin or higher to secure their spot in the Round of 16.
Teams
Forest have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-0 Premier League loss at home to Liverpool.
Matz Sels (groin), Willy Boly, Nicolo Savona, John Victor and Chris Wood (all knee) remain absent.
Fenerbahce will be without Milan Skriniar after he suffered a groin injury during the first leg.
Caglar Soyuncu (muscle), Ederson, Anderson Talisca (both hamstring), Edson Alvarez (ankle), Anthony Musaba and Mert Gunok (both ineligible) are ruled out.
Jayden Oosterwolde and Fred are both suspended after the pair received their third bookings of the campaign in the first leg, but Oosterwolde is also sidelined with a groin injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Forest host Fenerbahce at the City Ground on Thursday 26 February at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Forest won 3-0 away in their first competitive clash against Fenerbahce in all UEFA competitions, which came in the first leg of this tie just last week.
- Fenerbahce are visiting Forest for the first time in all UEFA competitions.
- Forest have kept clean sheets in their last three home matches in this competition (W3), during which they scored nine goals.
- Fenerbahce won just one of their four away games in the league phase (W1, D2, L1).
Prediction
With their fate in their own hands and coming into this home leg off the back of a narrow unlucky domestic defeat against Liverpool, Forest can come into this match full of confidence that they can secure their passage if can play as well as they did but with more clinical finishing.
Fenerbahce on the other hand absolutely must go for it from the get-go and try to get an early opening goal to unsettle Forest, otherwise this could be another tough night given their away struggles in the league phase if they don’t start well.
I however do think that Forest will have one eye on a winnable Premier League trip to Brighton on Sunday but they need to stay focused, as this tie could turn if Fenerbahce score first but I otherwise fancy Forest to nick a draw.
Prediction: Forest 1-1 Fenerbahce
Result: Forest 1-2 Fenerbahce (Forest win 4-2 on aggregate)
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