Key events
Europa League full-time scores in the early kick-offs:
Tonight’s other fixtures (8pm GMT):
Celta Vigo v Lyon
Ferencvaros v Braga
Genk v Freiburg
Crystal Palace are also in Conference League action at home to AEK Larnaca.
Forest captain Ryan Yates starts on the bench and he’s keen to get his hands on that shiny vase in Istanbul in May, underlining the positive spin it can put on their disappointing season to date.
It’s an absolute privilege, something not just me, but I think the whole team, the whole club, we really haven’t taken for granted. It’s finding that balance. These are such special days and occasions and we want to do our absolute best.
We don’t want to just take part. We have a very ambitious owner, and us as a club and our supporters, they expect a lot from us with the quality we have, and we want to do ourselves proud, do them proud and really progress.
We still have an incredible opportunity to have a really positive season and you have to take these opportunities when they come.
Tottenham are not the only relegation-threatened team in the European knockouts. Forest’s starting XI suggests that Vítor Pereira is looking to use the Europa League to generate some momentum in their bid for Premier League survival.
Pereira was talking this week, which ends with Sunday’s visit of Fulham:
For now, we try to be competitive in both, in the Europe League and try to get points and results in our league. I need to try to balance, but to be competitive in the next game and afterwards against Fulham.
It is important for the players to be ready to help the team, we need to be ready to challenge and perform. We have quality in the squad, they are working hard, with good energy, trying to understand the tactical demands. We will be ready.
It’s Spurs v Forest the weekend after this, by the way …
Aston Villa have taken the lead in their first leg at Lille. That was an early kick-off and you can follow the final 20 minutes here:
Starting lineups
Forest revert to a back four, presumably, with Nikola Milenkovic the centre-back to make way. Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi come in from the start.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Cunha, Morato, Murillo; Anderson, Domínguez; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Igor Jesus
Subs: Gunn, Willows, Williams, Sangaré, Lucca, Yates, McAtee, Bakwa, Milenkovic, Abbott
Midtjylland make two changes from their last fixture, a 1-1 draw with AGF (winning 2-1 on aggregate) in the Danish cup on Sunday.
Midtjylland (3-5-2): Ólafsson; Diao, Erlic, Bech; Mbabu, Castillo, Billing, Bravo, Bak; Brumado, Simsir
Subs: Lössl, Ugboh, Lee, Cho, Gabriel, Chilufya, Uhre, Andreasen, Zé
Referee: Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia)
Preamble
Ange Postecoglou was in the dugout the last time Nottingham Forest played Midtjylland in the Europa League. It was the beginning of October and, obviously, Big Ange didn’t oversee a win. Since that 3-2 home defeat in the league phase, Sean Dyche has come and gone, and now Vítor Pereira leads Forest deeper into their first European campaign for 30 years.
After seeing off Fenerbahce in the playoff round, Forest face Midtjylland in the first leg of their last 16 tie at the City Ground. The Danish side finished a lofty third in the league phase and their squad includes Premier League pedigree in Philip Billing, Kevin Mbabu and Mads Bech. The winner of this tie will take on Porto or Stuttgart in the quarter-finals and potentially set themselves on a collision course with Aston Villa in the last four.
Kick-off is 8pm (GMT) – team news is coming up shortly. Do get in touch with your thoughts on the game via email.
