Nottingham Forest fans endured a nerve-jangling night at the City Ground on February 26, 2026, as their side narrowly edged past Fenerbahce to reach the last 16 of the Europa League, despite losing 2-1 on the night. With a 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Istanbul, Forest looked set for smooth sailing, but Turkish forward Kerem Akturkoglu had other ideas, scoring twice and sending shivers through the home crowd before Callum Hudson-Odoi’s crucial goal restored some calm and ultimately sealed Forest’s aggregate progress, 4-2.
The evening began with Forest’s supporters in a buoyant mood, buoyed by their team’s commanding first-leg display. That 3-0 result, with goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus, and Morgan Gibbs-White, had all but booked their passage to the next round. Yet, as kick-off approached at 8pm GMT, there was an undercurrent of anxiety—after all, European nights have a way of producing the unexpected, and Fenerbahce, despite being ravaged by injuries and suspensions, were determined to make it a contest.
Forest manager Vitor Pereira, only two weeks into his reign after replacing Sean Dyche, made six changes from the side that narrowly lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Premier League just days earlier. With the looming threat of relegation still hanging over Forest’s domestic campaign, Pereira opted to rotate his squad, resting key players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic, while keeping one eye on the crucial league clash against Brighton. "We move forward - I'm happy, we played under pressure. It was like a thriller - with suspense," Pereira said after the match, reflecting the emotional rollercoaster his team and the fans had just experienced.
The starting XI for Forest featured Ortega in goal, with a backline of Morato, Murillo, Jair Cunha, and Williams. The midfield was anchored by Anderson and Dominguez, with Hutchinson, McAtee, and Yates supporting Lucca up front. The bench was stacked with options, including Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, and Igor Jesus, all of whom would play pivotal roles as the night unfolded.
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, arrived in Nottingham with a depleted squad. Coach Domenico Tedesco was forced to do without suspended centre-back Jayden Oosterwolde and several injured stars, including Milan Skriniar, Caglar Soyuncu, Anderson Talisca, Edson Alvarez, and goalkeeper Ederson. Their starting XI featured Cetin between the sticks, with Muldur, Guendouzi, Demir, Brown, Aydin, Yuksek, Kante, Nene, Cherif, and Akturkoglu lining up in a formation designed to chase goals from the outset.
Despite their underdog status and a dismal European record on English soil—just one win in ten attempts—Fenerbahce started brightly. In the 22nd minute, Forest were caught on the break, and Akturkoglu fired past Ortega to give the visitors hope and silence the home crowd. The City Ground, packed with 26,883 fans, suddenly felt tense as the aggregate lead was cut to 3-1.
Forest struggled to regain their composure, with even the usually reliable Anderson missing a gilt-edged chance. Pereira responded with four changes at halftime, withdrawing the ineffective James McAtee and Ryan Yates among others, and introducing Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, and Milenkovic to steady the ship. Yet, disaster struck just 25 seconds into the second half. Jair Cunha tripped Akturkoglu in the box, and the Turkish striker coolly converted the penalty, making it 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Suddenly, what had seemed a formality was now a full-blown thriller.
Fenerbahce pressed for the equalizer that would have sent the tie to extra time, but Forest’s substitutes made the difference. In the 68th minute, Callum Hudson-Odoi, on for the second half, latched onto a loose ball and finished low to the keeper’s left. His sixth goal of the season could not have come at a better moment, restoring Forest’s two-goal aggregate cushion and lifting the anxiety that had gripped the stadium.
There were still nervy moments to endure. Omari Hutchinson had a golden opportunity to level the match on the night, bursting through on goal only to be denied by Fenerbahce’s keeper Tarik Cetin. The visitors never stopped pushing, but Forest’s defense, now reinforced, held firm. When the final whistle blew, Forest’s players and fans could finally exhale—they had survived the scare and were through to the last 16 for the first time in three decades.
Afterwards, Fenerbahce coach Domenico Tedesco reflected on his side’s brave effort: "We are proud of the way we played, with personality and belief. At home, we lost the qualification, they changed the coach a few days before which changes things, they overperformed in our stadium, we underperformed. We have to accept we are out of the competition but at least with our heads up." Tedesco’s words summed up the tie—Fenerbahce’s fate was sealed in Istanbul, but their fight in Nottingham earned them respect.
For Forest, the result was a vital boost. The club has been battling on two fronts, fighting to avoid Premier League relegation while seeking European glory. Pereira’s arrival has brought fresh energy and tactical discipline, and this continental progress could be just the tonic they need. As the coach put it, "We are not comfortable in the table in the Premier League and this is very important for us, to get the points to avoid a difficult situation." With just two points separating them from the drop zone and 11 league games remaining, every ounce of momentum counts.
The draw for the next round will see Forest face either FC Midtjylland—who knocked them out of the Conference League in October and sparked Ange Postecoglou’s departure—or Real Betis, with whom they played out a 2-2 draw in Spain during the group stage. Both potential opponents present unique challenges, but Forest’s resilience on this dramatic night will give them confidence.
Looking ahead, Forest’s attention turns back to Premier League survival, with a trip to Brighton looming large on Sunday before a daunting visit to Manchester City. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, will try to regroup for domestic competition, traveling to Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig and then facing Gaziantep in the Turkish Cup.
For now, though, Nottingham Forest’s European adventure continues. Their nervy escape against Fenerbahce was a reminder that nothing comes easy on the continent, but with belief, grit, and a little bit of luck, this team is writing a new chapter in its storied history.