Fenerbahçe date Nottingham Forest in Europa League playoff 1st leg
Baku, February 19, AZERTAC
Fenerbahçe host Nottingham Forest on Thursday night in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 playoff, aiming to take a decisive step toward the last 16, Daily Sabah reports.
The match at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time.
It will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. The winner over two legs will face either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis in the next round.
Fenerbahçe’s path to the playoffs was uneven. They collected 12 points from eight league phase matches, finishing 19th after winning just one of their final five European games. A narrow 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa exposed defensive lapses, and a 1-1 draw with FCSB confirmed they would need an extra hurdle to reach the last 16.
Yet their home record in Europe remains a pillar of confidence. Before the Villa loss, they were unbeaten in five straight continental matches in Kadıköy. They have never lost consecutive home fixtures in European competition, a statistic that reinforces the importance of taking control in Istanbul.
Domestically, the picture is far brighter. Under Domenico Tedesco, Fenerbahçe are unbeaten through 22 Super Lig matches and have won their last four league games, scoring 11 goals in the process. They remain within three points of leaders Galatasaray, keeping alive hopes of a first league title since 2014. Momentum is on their side.
For Nottingham Forest, this tie marks the beginning of a new chapter. Owner Evangelos Marinakis has already dismissed three managers this season before appointing Vitor Pereira to an 18-month contract.
The Portuguese coach takes charge for the first time in a high-stakes European away match.
Forest finished 13th in the 36-team league phase table with 14 points, just two shy of automatic qualification.
Fenerbahçe have faced English opponents 21 times in European competition, winning just four of those matches. That record underlines the challenge ahead, even with home advantage.
For Fenerbahçe, the objective is clear. Build a cushion before the return leg at the City Ground on Feb. 26. For Forest and Pereira, it is about resilience and belief at the start of a turbulent new era.
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