7M - Nottingham Forest vs Ferencvaros: Europa League Clash Preview, Squad Updates, and Match Forecast

Nottingham Forest host Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros at the City Ground in their final Europa League League Phase fixture on Thursday, with both sides aiming to secure automatic progression to the last 16. Forest, currently 14th in the 36-team standings, trail eighth-placed Real Betis by three points and require a win plus favorable results elsewhere to advance directly. Ferencvaros, sitting seventh, need a victory over their English opponents to guarantee qualification for the knockout rounds. 

Form and Context 
Forest’s European campaign—marking their first continental competition in 30 years—has secured playoff qualification, but their hopes for a top-eight finish dimmed after a controversial 1-0 defeat at Braga. The match saw Forest set a dubious Europa League record: becoming the second team ever to lose without facing a shot on target, miss a penalty, score an own goal, and suffer a red card. Despite this, a 2-0 Premier League win at Brentford on Sunday extended their unbeaten domestic run to three games (W2 D1), lifting them five points clear of relegation danger. 

In the Europa League, Forest have won three, drawn three, and lost two of seven matches, triumphing in their last two home games against Porto and Malmö by a combined 5-0 scoreline. However, a draw or loss against Ferencvaros would force them into the playoffs. 

Ferencvaros, one of only three teams (alongside Freiburg and Viktoria Plzeň) to remain unbeaten in seven League Phase matches (W4 D3), hold their fate in their hands. Sitting seventh, they lead eighth-placed Betis by a single point and know a win against Forest—four points adrift—will secure last-16 qualification for the first time since 2022–23. 

The Hungarian champions have already defeated Rangers, Ludogorets, Salzburg, and Genk this season but squandered a late lead against Panathinaikos last week, drawing 1-1 at home. A subsequent 3-1 domestic loss to ETO Győr saw them slip four points behind the league summit, heightening the urgency for a positive result in England. 

Historically, Ferencvaros have struggled against English opposition, winning just six of 20 meetings (D6 L8), with their last victory coming in 2004 (3-1 vs. Millwall). 

Squad Availability and Projected Lineups  Nottingham Forest: Chris Wood and John Victor remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Omari Hutchinson, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Jair Cunha are ineligible after missing the Europa League squad registration. Elliot Anderson serves a suspension following a red card at Braga, and Douglas Luiz’s proposed return to Aston Villa is in motion. Ryan Yates is likely to partner Ibrahim Sangaré in midfield, with Morgan Gibbs-White operating behind striker Igor Jesus, who scored at Brentford. 
Ferencvaros: Stefan Gartenmann is injured, and Tom Raemaekers suspended due to yellow-card accumulation. Krisztian Lisztes has returned to the squad but remains an unused substitute. Barnabas Varga’s departure to AEK Athens opens opportunities for Bamidele Yusuf, Kristoffer Zachariassen, Zsombor Gruber, and Leny Joseph to compete for attacking roles. 

Predicted Nottingham Forest XI: 
Sels; Savona, Milenković, Morato, Williams; Yates, Sangaré; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus 
Predicted Ferencvaros XI: 
Grof; Lakatos, Cisse, Szalai; Makreckis, Levi, Romao, Kanichowsky, Cadu; Zachariassen, Bamidele 

Match Forecast  Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2–2 Ferencvaros 
Both teams have scored in six of Ferencvaros’ seven Europa League matches this season, suggesting an open contest. Forest, bolstered by home advantage and a recent Premier League win, enter as favorites but face a resilient Ferencvaros side unbeaten in the competition. 

While Forest’s need for a win could drive urgency, Ferencvaros’ defensive discipline and experience in high-stakes matches may secure a draw—sufficient for their qualification ambitions. A tense, tactical battle is anticipated, with Forest’s playoff fate hanging in the balance should they fail to clinch all three points.