Nottingham Forest – Fenerbahce

The visitors will play with dignity in Nottingham after the home disgrace

The result of the first leg between the rivals in Istanbul suggests that the active phase of the battle for a place in the Europa League Round of 16 is coming to an end. The favourite secured an away win 3-0. What questions could arise before the return match? However, if you go a bit deeper, you can conclude that Fenerbahce still has a chance for eventual success. First, the Istanbul club has not shown such poor football this season. In their home stadium, Fenerbahce's starting lineup could not show even a fraction of what they're capable of. Nottingham's side certainly won't perform worse. Secondly, since the start of the season, Nottingham Forest have had a fourth manager, and the coach is tasked with a key appointment-related challenge that has nothing to do with the Europa League. The main goal for Forest this season is to preserve their Premier League status. And in the previous round of the Premier League Victor Pereira's team suffered a very painful blow, losing to Liverpool because of a goal in the final seconds of the match. Third, Nottingham Forest already suffered a home defeat at an early stage of the tournament, a result of insufficient focus. It occurred in the clash with Danish Midtjylland. Bookmakers have identified the home side as the favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.79 on their victory. Nottingham Forest in the last eleven Premier League matches have won only twice. A plus from this period can also be considered a draw with Arsenal. However, such results have led the club to further personnel changes and left them two points clear of the relegation zone. Two full days after the return match with Fenerbahce, the Forest face a very tough trip to Brighton, and after another similar interval, a trip to Etihad to face Manchester City. Surely Pereira would be considered crazy if he fields all the key players for the match on Thursday. And it's unlikely that the players who take the field will fight with maximum desperation for a meaningless rematch victory. Fenerbahce will, at least, focus on revenge. In the visitors' squad there are Ederson, Kanté and Asensio, who have played in the Premier League and will come to Nottingham with extra motivation. Fenerbahce will put on a decent showing.