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<\/p>\nNottingham Forest survived a scare from Fenerbahce to book their Europa League last-16 place, winning 4-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 defeat at the City ground in Thursday’s second leg.<\/p>\n
Vitor Pereira had the luxury of rotation for the knockout play-off tie, having already won 3-0 in Istanbul last week, but the difference in performances could not have been more vast.<\/p>\n
Forest were the architects of their own difficulties too, and made a seemingly simple task monumentally harder.<\/p>\n
They were first punished in the 22nd minute when Fenerbahce’s ruthless break saw Kerem Akturkoglu sweep home to hand the visitors a lifeline.<\/p>\n
It gave Fenerbahce real confidence, with Akturkoglu and Sidiki Cherif squandering glorious chances to level up the tie in the first half.<\/p>\n
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\n The game was stopped mere seconds after kick-off after Fenerbahce fans threw flares onto the pitch<\/p>\n
\n Forest players forced to dodge Fenerbahce fireworks\n <\/p>\n
Forest players were forced to dodge fireworks thrown on to the pitch by Fenerbahce fans.\n<\/p>\n
Moments after the match kicked off, there was a three-minute delay as sections of a 1,500-strong away end launched several fireworks on to the pitch into the Forest penalty area.\n<\/p>\n
Jair Cunha had to take evasive action as he had his back to them and Neco Williams also had to duck as he tried to carry one away.\n<\/p>\n
Fenerbahce’s Archie Brown also had to intervene and carry some of the pyrotechnics off the pitch while urging calm from his side\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n
After 45 minutes with no shots on target, high turnovers and losing duels, Pereira made four half-time changes – something he called “difficult” after the game – bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus, Ola Aina and Ibrahim Sangare.<\/p>\n
But seconds into the second half, another clumsy moment handed Fenerbahce a penalty. Jair Cunha stuck a foot out to catch Akturkoglu and, after a VAR check, the on-field decision stood.<\/p>\n
![\"Fenerbahce's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/skysports-fenerbahce-kerem-akturkoglu_7176098.jpg\")
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\n Fenerbahce’s Kerem Akturkoglu scores his opener against Nottingham Forest<\/p>\n
It was the forward who stepped up and easily slotted home his second of the evening to give the Turkish side real hope of levelling up on aggregate.<\/p>\n
But Forest soon settled into their rhythm as the substitutes worked their magic, even if the approach of careful possession – as they have done so well in their two games under Pereira so far – did little to calm the nerves of the home fans.<\/p>\n
![\"Nottingham](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/skysports-callum-hudson-odoi_7176150.jpg\")
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\n Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi scored at the City Ground on Thursday<\/p>\n
And as the unhappy whistles began, Forest answered. It was two substitutes who combined as Aina’s swinging cross found Hudson-Odoi over on the left of the area. He then sped past his defender before hammering home his first European goal of the season into the far corner.<\/p>\n
The relief was palpable around the City Ground, and it took the remaining puff out of injury-hit Fenerbahce. Forest are now in the draw for Friday’s last-16 draw, and will face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland.<\/p>\n
\n Team news headlines\n <\/p>\n
Only five Nottingham Forest players survived from the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool – those were Stefan Ortega, Murillo, Neco Williams, Elliot Anderson and Omari Hutchinson.
\n Fenerbache have an injury-hit squad, and only named five outfield players on their bench. The likes of Ederson and Milan Skriniar were among the absentees.<\/p>\n
Pereira: Changing six players was a risk<\/p>\n
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira: “When you change half of a team, it’s not easy to keep the level, that’s my responsibility because we have an important game in three days. By my decision, I try to manage the next game and recover some players. It’s not easy. It will change a lot.<\/p>\n
“We are in the moment of the season that we need to think not about one game, but about two games, about the next game. It was a risk because I decided to make six changes in the team. If you have one or two changes the players can be in the middle of the others, and you don’t miss the quality.<\/p>\n
“But when you change six players they aren’t used to playing 90 minutes. This is the risk and I decide to take this risk. I decide because I need to think about the Brighton game, because it’s very important for us. We need to go there with fuel and energy.<\/p>\n
“We conceded a goal and lost the confidence to play. It was difficult for me to do four subs at half-time, but I said to the players it’s my decision. The game was a dangerous situation for us. They start the second half by scoring the second goal and after we start to play and create.<\/p>\n
“We have a big chance to score the second goal. Ok, this is important to keep in our mind. I know they came here to fight for the result.”<\/p>\n
On learnings: “Even for me. If you change five players you don’t know what will happen. When the pressure starts to come, under stress it’s difficult to be themselves when you don’t play every match. In the end, we are in the competition so let’s move forward and think about Brighton.”<\/p>\n
Vitor Pereira has become the second Nottingham Forest manager this season to lose his first two home games in charge, along with Ange Postecoglou. He’s now lost four in a row at home in all competitions (also his last two at Wolves), his worst-ever run as a manager.<\/p>\n
Hudson-Odoi: We made it difficult for ourselves <\/p>\n
![\"Callum-Hudson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/skysports-callum-hudson-odoi_7176215.jpg\")
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\n Hudson-Odoi scored his first European goal of the season against Fenerbahce<\/p>\n
Nottingham Forest goalscorer Callum Hudson-Odoi to TNT Sports: “We made it difficult for ourselves. When you’re in the lead and sometimes you can feel a bit comfortable, but we showed a great reaction after they scored the second goal.<\/p>\n
“We wanted to score, which we did. It’s important that we’re through even if we didn’t get the result on the night.”<\/p>\n
On what Forest needed to do in the second half: “We needed to up the levels a bit more and focus on what we know is best – that’s us on the ball, playing a high press and going to win the ball up high.<\/p>\n
“It was unfortunate to score a second goal straight away in the second half but we reacted very well.<\/p>\n
“In situations like that where they’re getting a couple of goals, you’ve got to calm the game down. They’re trying to chase the game, but we had to do what we know best – keep the ball, create more chances and hope to get a goal.<\/p>\n
“When we got the goal, it gave us more breathing space to attack more. We’ve just got to keep working hard and push ourselves to get results.”<\/p>\n
On facing either Real Betis or Midtjylland in the last 16: “No matter who comes, we’re going to be prepared and ready for the game.”<\/p>\n
Although they have now reached the Europa League last 16 stage, Nottingham Forest have suffered two home defeats in a single major European season for the first time (also lost 2-3 to FC Midtjylland in October).\n<\/p>\n
Fenerbahce registered just their second European away win in England in all competitions (D2 L7), with this their first since beating Man Utd 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League in October 1996.<\/p>\n
What is the Europa League schedule?<\/p>\n
Round of 16 draw: 27 February, 12pm<\/p>\n
Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026<\/p>\n
Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026<\/p>\n
Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026<\/p>\n
Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)<\/p>\n