Vitor Pereira and Nottingham Forest are set for a big test of character ahead of Thursday night’s pivotal UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg against FC Porto. The fact that his side, have lost each of their last two knockout games at the City Ground paints a grim picture, but there is a semi-final spot at stake.
Nottingham Forest are under pressure to deliver a semi-final place in the Europa League while managing their commitments in the Premier League. They took baby steps towards steering themselves to safety as they could only manage a draw against Aston Villa at the weekend, while rivals like West Ham United and Leeds United gained ground.
Back to the Europa League challenge, Forest will be relatively pleased with their performance away at Porto in the first leg. That game in Porto had early fireworks as the hosts scored early, but Forest forced an own goal to level the tie. Pereira might view the outcome positively, given the hosts peppered 16 shots at Forest, who only managed six all game, as he now has a big task to get past the Portuguese leaders at the City Ground.
While Nottingham Forest manoeuvre through their commitments in the Europa League and at the foot of the Premier League table, FC Porto have similar objectives but at the opposite end of their league. Francesco Farioli’s men are under pressure in Portugal to secure the domestic league title, as they continue to sit five points clear of Sporting CP, though they have played a game more.
Farioli’s side brushed aside Estoril Praia at the weekend to maintain their advantage at the top of the table, and now they will aim to get past Forest and into the semi-finals. Porto have a dismal recent record against English opposition, losing their last five meetings in the UEFA Europa League, including the away trip to Forest in the group stages this term.
Vitor Pereira will have to make do without Jair Cunha, Nicolo Savona, Willy Boly, and keeper John Victor for the return leg, but that may not diminish his selection decisions to a large extent. In fact, Nottingham Forest are boosted by the return of key midfielder Elliot Anderson, who missed the first leg through suspension.
The England international is now set to resume his partnership with Ibrahim Sangare. There is a strong chance that Pereira retains a largely unchanged side from the draw with Aston Villa at the weekend, except Stefan Ortega replacing Matz Sels between the sticks.
Pereira is set to have a strong back four, with all his main stars fit and available for this encounter with Porto, and the same could be said of the midfield. Omari Hutchinson will continue to feature on the right wing, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi completing the front line as Igor Jesus leads the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
Francesco Farioli’s side are missing slightly more players than their counterparts, with Luuk de Jong, Martim Fernandes, Oskar Pietuszewski, Samu Aghenowa, and Nehuen Perez all ruled out with respective injury issues. With no further issues or suspensions beyond that, the manager is likely to retain an unchanged side from the first leg.
Farioli chose to play with the experienced Thiago Silva in place of Jakub Kiwior, and the Brazilian may once again pair up with Jan Bednarek at the heart of the defence. With the key right-back who scored in the first leg absent, Alberto Costa is expected to deputise there, while Zaidu Sanusi will start on the left.
Pablo Rosario will assume his duties at the base of the FC Porto midfield, with Seko Fofana and Gabri Veiga on either side. William Gomes, Terem Moffi, and Borja Sainz will complete the front line for Porto.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Alberto Costa, Silva, Bednarek, Sanusi; Fofana, Rosario, Veiga; Gomes, Moffi, Sainz
One of the key reasons why FC Porto had so much joy in the final third during the first leg was Nottingham Forest’s weaker midfield by their own standards. The Tricky Trees are now set to welcome Anderson back into the mix after his absence in the first leg.
The Englishman’s presence will provide a better shield to the backline, as well as help Forest maintain a stronger structure in possession. Overall, Anderson’s return is a massive boost for Vitor Pereira’s side, as they are significantly better placed to progress into the semifinals with him than without him.
This is a tricky battle between two sides at opposite ends of their respective league tables, but equally competitive in the Europa League. There are merits to suggest Porto may have an edge, particularly given their experience in Europe over the last couple of decades, a period during which Nottingham Forest have had practically none.
However, the home side are better in terms of their shape and could spring a surprise in this return leg. The possibility of a Porto win still exists, but Nottingham Forest are slightly better placed to advance to the semifinals of the Europa League.
