Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest Europa League Odds for Play-Off Leg 2
Nottingham Forest welcome Turkish giants Fenerbahce to The City Ground on Thursday, 26th February 2026, for the second leg of their Europa League Last 16 tie, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 UTC. The hosts hold a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg and are looking to seal their progression to the quarter-finals, while the visitors face an uphill battle to overturn the significant deficit.
OC Staff - February 26, 2026, 9:00 AM EST
3 Minute ReadNottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce: Lineups, Team News and Prediction
Nottingham Forest welcome Turkish giants Fenerbahce to The City Ground on Thursday, 26th February 2026, for the second leg of their Europa League Last 16 tie, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 UTC. The hosts hold a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg and are looking to seal their progression to the quarter-finals, while the visitors face an uphill battle to overturn the significant deficit.
Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce Form
The home side comes into this fixture on the back of a narrow 0-1 home defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League, a result that saw them concede a 97th-minute winner. Prior to that league setback, Forest secured a dominant 3-0 away victory against Fenerbahce in the first leg of this Europa League tie. Their recent form over the last six matches has been mixed, with two wins, two draws, and two losses across all competitions. This run includes a 0-0 draw against Wolves, a 3-1 loss to Leeds, a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace (where they received a red card), and a resounding 4-0 home win against Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, managed a 1-1 home draw against Kasimpasa in their latest Super Lig outing. This followed their disappointing 0-3 home loss to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of this European clash. The Turkish side's last six matches show two wins, one draw, and three losses. Before the draw and the Forest defeat, they suffered a 2-3 away loss to Trabzonspor, secured a 3-1 home win against Genclerbirligi, enjoyed a 3-1 Cup victory over Erzurumspor FK, and recorded a 2-0 away win against Kocaelispor.
Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce Head to Head
These two teams have met only once before, which was the first leg of this tie. Nottingham Forest emerged victorious, securing a commanding 3-0 win away at Fenerbahce in the Europa League on 19th February 2026. This means the upcoming match at The City Ground will be their second-ever encounter.
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Nottingham Forest vs. Fenerbahce Odds
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Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce Probable Lineups
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina; Sangaré, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Jesus
Fenerbahce (4-3-3): Biterge; Brown, Müldür, Demir, Semedo; Guendouzi, Yüksek, Kanté; Aktürkoglu, Cherif, Aydin
Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce Team News
Nottingham Forest's manager, Vítor Pereira, will be without a few key players for this crucial second leg. Chris Wood (knee surgery), John Victor (knee), Nicolò Savona (knee), and Matz Sels (groin) are all sidelined due to injury. Stefan Ortega is expected to continue in goal, supported by a settled defensive line.
Fenerbahce arrives with a more extensive list of absentees. Manager Domenico Tedesco faces a challenge with Fred and Jayden Oosterwolde both suspended. Additionally, Milan Skriniar, Talisca, Çaglar Söyüncü, and Edson Álvarez are all out injured, depriving the Yellow Canaries of significant defensive and attacking options.
Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce Match Facts
- Nottingham Forest have kept clean sheets in their last three Europa League home matches.
- The hosts boast an impressive 65% clean-sheet ratio at home in major European competition (17 in 26 games).
- Forest are aiming for a third successive major European win for the first time since the 1983/84 season.
- Fenerbahçe's European record on English soil is poor, standing at just one win, two draws, and seven losses in ten attempts, a run dating back to 1996.
- Fenerbahçe have a historical challenge in knockout ties, having never progressed from any of the 26 European ties in which they lost the first leg.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Fenerbahce
Nottingham Forest enter this second leg with one foot firmly in the last 16 after their commanding 3-0 victory in Istanbul. While their domestic momentum was slightly checked by a late Premier League defeat to Liverpool, the performance itself showed promise. Vítor Pereira's side will now look to manage the tie with composure. History strongly favours the hosts, who have demonstrated strong defensive control at home in the Europa League, keeping clean sheets in their last three matches and boasting a high clean-sheet ratio in European competition.
Fenerbahce, despite their formidable away form in all competitions (unbeaten in 14), face a monumental task. Their European record in England is historically poor, and their knockout history suggests they struggle to overturn first-leg deficits. With key players like Fred and Oosterwolde suspended, and several others injured, their attacking potency will be tested. While Forest are adept at creating scoring chances and attacking set pieces, Fenerbahce also possesses strengths in finishing chances and attacking set pieces. The visitors will push hard for goals, but Forest's defensive resilience and the comfort of their aggregate lead should see them through, likely resulting in a hard-fought draw on the night.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals (+125) Check out the best odds on FanDuel Sportsbook
Given Nottingham Forest's strong defensive record at home in European competition, having kept clean sheets in their last three Europa League home games, and Fenerbahce's historical struggles to score on English soil in Europe, a low-scoring affair is highly probable. Forest will be focused on controlling the game and protecting their substantial lead, rather than engaging in an open, high-scoring contest. This defensive solidity, combined with Fenerbahce's significant injury and suspension list, makes "Under 2.5 Goals" a valuable betting angle, aligning with the predicted 1-1 scoreline.
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