Istanbul: Fenerbah§e is set to host Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 playoff on Thursday night, aiming to secure a crucial victory at the Skr Saracoglu Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time in what marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the winner of this two-legged tie will advance to face either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis in the next round. Fenerbah§e's journey to the playoffs has been challenging, as they managed to accumulate 12 points from eight league phase matches and finished 19th, only winning one of their last five European games. A narrow defeat to Aston Villa and a draw with FCSB confirmed their need for an extra hurdle to reach the last 16. However, Fenerbah§e's strong home record in Europe offers hope, having been unbeaten in five consecutive home matches in Kadik¶y before the loss to Villa.
Domestically, Fenerbah§e's performance under coach Domenico Tedesco has been impressive. The team remains unbeaten in 22 Super Lig matches, winning their last four league games and scoring 11 goals. They are just three points behind leaders Galatasaray, keeping their league title hopes alive for the first time since 2014.
For Nottingham Forest, this playoff marks a fresh start. The club's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, has already replaced three managers this season, appointing Vitor Pereira on an 18-month contract. This will be Pereira's first game in charge, and it comes in a high-stakes European away match. Forest finished 13th in the league phase table, with 14 points, narrowly missing automatic qualification.
Historically, Fenerbah§e has struggled against English clubs, winning only four out of 21 European encounters. This record highlights the challenge they face, despite having the home advantage. The objective for Fenerbah§e is to establish a lead before the return leg at the City Ground on February 26, while Nottingham Forest and Pereira aim to demonstrate resilience and belief at the onset of a new chapter.