BETTING GUIDE: Nottingham Forest vs Malmö FF - Match preview,team news and betting guide
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Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 27.11.25. | 10:00
Forest's stunning 3–0 victory away at Liverpool not only lifted them out of the Premier League drop zone, but also injected belief into a squad that had been searching for identity under Sean Dyche
Nottingham Forest enters matchday five of the UEFA Europa League with renewed confidence and a revived purpose, buoyed by their recent surge in domestic form.
Their stunning 3-0 victory away at Liverpool not only lifted them out of the Premier League drop zone but also instilled belief in a squad that had been searching for an identity under Sean Dyche.
Now, Forest shifts attention back to European duties, where their League Phase journey remains finely balanced (W1, D2, L1). With qualification still within reach and back-to-back strong performances behind them, the City Ground prepares for a crucial evening.
Malmö arrive as a side needing a reset, having finished a disappointing sixth in the Swedish Allsvenskan and entering this fixture winless in their Europa League campaign (D1, L3).
With no league football for months and Europe as their only competitive outlet, pressure sits heavily on the Swedish visitors.
Forest’s home form under Dyche has been one of the foundations of their current uptick, as they remain unbeaten at the City Ground (W2, D1).
Their 2-0 victory over Porto on matchday three stands as their strongest European performance so far, showcasing their improved structure, verticality in transition, and resilience without the ball.
Their Europa League matches have followed a controlled theme, with few moments of offensive chaos and a strong defensive spine guiding them through difficult periods. Malmö, on the other hand, has struggled to establish any stability.
Their European away record remains one of the poorest in the competition’s history, just three wins in 16 main-draw away matches, and they have already conceded more shots than any team in this season’s Europa League.
Their last two European away fixtures ended in 5–0 and 3–0 defeats, underscoring the scale of the challenge they face here.
The historical context of this matchup adds a layer of nostalgia, with the clubs famously meeting in the 1979 European Cup final, which Forest won.
However, the more recent head-to-head record offers Malmö a faint glimmer of hope; they have beaten an English team only once in major European competition, and that victory came against Forest in 1995.
That said, Forest’s modern identity under Dyche, built on compact defensive blocks and efficient pressure triggers, contrasts starkly with Malmö’s inconsistencies in both structure and chance creation. Malmö have scored only once in their four Europa League games and remain the lowest-shooting team in the entire tournament.
Team news further shapes expectations. Forest remains without several first-team figures, including Chris Wood, Douglas Luiz, Zinchenko, Ola Aina, Angus Gunn, and others, but Dyche has shown he can rotate while maintaining tactical cohesion.
John Victor is pushing to return in goal, while Morato could feature in defense.
The midfield could see changes, with Ryan Yates and James McAtee hoping for starts, and Callum Hudson-Odoi pushing for involvement on the left. Malmö’s squad issues are no less significant.
Arnor Sigurdsson, Gentian Lajqi, and Erik Botheim are all unavailable, while Lasse Berg Johnsen is doubtful.
Melker Ellborg is expected to remain between the posts, and captain Pontus Jansson should anchor the backline.
The return of Daniel Gudjohnsen offers a welcome attacking option, though Malmö still lacks proven goal threats against strong opposition.
Tactically, Forest are expected to approach the match with the same disciplined intensity that has defined Dyche’s early tenure.
Their structure will likely hinge on a 4-4-2 hybrid, with emphasis on sturdy central protection and wide players providing directness in transition.
The key to their success at home has been the controlled aggression in pressing-triggered when opponents play into congested midfield zones-and the rapid release into threatening counterattacks. Malmö, by contrast, prioritizes midfield density and low-to-mid defensive blocks, but their transitions have lacked fluency.
Their biggest vulnerability lies in defending wide areas and coping with crosses, an area Forest have been exploiting effectively in recent weeks.
Malmö’s inability to sustain long phases of possession against high-intensity opponents further tilts the tactical edge toward the hosts.
Forest’s attacking threat will revolve around their vertical combinations and intelligent half-space movements. Igor Jesus, who has scored consistently in cup competitions, is one to watch, especially early in the match.
Malmö’s best path to goal will likely come through counterattacks and set pieces, where they still possess aerial presence and structural discipline.
However, their low shot volume and poor chance creation metrics offer little confidence that they can sustain pressure away from home.
Key Pointers
Forest are unbeaten at home under Dyche (W2, D1), including a strong 2–0 win over Porto.
Malmö are winless in the Europa League (D1, L3) and have conceded 2+ goals in five of their last six away matches in Europe.
Forest matches rarely see both teams score-only three of their last ten have.
Malmö has attempted the fewest shots in the Europa League this season.
Forest’s home strength, Malmö’s defensive vulnerabilities, and the hosts’ improving attacking rhythm point strongly toward a high-scoring Forest victory.
The visitors may contribute a goal if Forest switches off, but the overall flow overwhelmingly favors the Premier League side.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest to Win & Over 2.5 Goals.
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