Nottingham take on the visitors Fenerbahce in the second leg of UEFA Europa League round of 1/16-finals. First leg result: 3-0. The match will be played on Thursday, February 26th at City Ground (Nottingham).
Nottingham Forest enjoyed an unexpectedly sharp improvement last season — a team that had only recently returned from the Championship and had previously been fighting for survival finished in seventh place. Nuno Espírito Santo was dismissed by autumn, largely because he was not forgiven for failing to stay inside the top four, even though the club had been there for a long time. With Postecoglou, there were no wins at all, and it was only thanks to the swift appointment of Dyche that the team’s game stabilized. In the Premier League, this meant a gradual move away from the relegation zone, while in the Europa League, after collecting just one point from the first two rounds, they went on to secure four wins and a total of 13 points. Despite all that, Sean was also removed in February, and just a week ago Vítor Pereira made his debut. In recent weeks, Nottingham Forest have looked more pragmatic, prioritizing results over spectacle. Their latest matches suggest that consistency in Europe has become a key objective amid ongoing managerial changes.
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Fenerbahce are trying to be strong on all fronts. The Yellow Canaries have not been champions since 2014. Nothing improved under Mourinho; on the contrary, they lost the title race to Galatasaray without a real fight last season and once again failed to get through Champions League qualification. After setbacks against Benfica, the club parted ways with the “Special One.” Under his successor, Tedesco, there was a noticeable upturn in form. He even managed to beat the Lions in the Super Cup and is genuinely challenging the favored neighbors in the Turkish league. In the Europa League, despite starting with a 1–3 defeat in Zagreb against Dinamo Zagreb, they then lost only to the tournament favorite, Aston Villa, while recording three wins and three draws. However, last week in Istanbul, the giant suddenly suffered a humiliating 0–3 home defeat. That result exposed lingering issues with concentration and pressure. Recent away performances also suggest that Fenerbahce struggle to respond quickly after setbacks.
Despite their rich history, the English side had not played in European competitions for a long time before this season. It is therefore no surprise that they faced the Turkish club for the first time only last week. It is unlikely that the Turks truly believe in a comeback. More likely, the Reds will once again defeat an opponent that now appears to be lacking motivation.
Prediction for the match: Nottingham to win.
