Samba in Istanbul – Brazilian-powered Nottingham dismantled Fenerbahce

The Europa League playoff clash against Fenerbahce did not come at the best moment for Nottingham Forest. The coach had been sacked, a new one was appointed, all on the eve of a very tough match against Fenerbahce. However, Vitor Pereira’s men, driven by two Brazilians, Igor Jesus and Murillo, as well as Gibbs-White, secured a convincing victory and a strong cushion ahead of the return leg.

Nottingham Forest started the game lively, causing early problems for the hosts. In the 3rd minute, Hutchinson danced down the right and sent a deep cross into the box, but Williams couldn’t get a touch on goal. In the 16th minute, Hudson-Odoi volleyed from the edge of the area, but the ball sailed over the bar, and three minutes later Muldur headed a corner just over the crossbar.

The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Murillo picked up the ball near the halfway line, drove forward toward the box, and fired a powerful left-footed strike from outside the area into the bottom right corner—a stunning way to kickstart the Pereira era at Forest.

Forest continued to press. In the 28th minute, Gibbs-White’s header was saved by Ederson, and in the 31st minute, his clever pass over the defense intended for Igor Jesus ended in the goalkeeper’s hands.

In the 38th minute, after a short free-kick, Williams’ deflected shot fell to Igor Jesus, but he couldn’t direct it on target. Hutchinson then found Williams outside the area in the 43rd minute, but his long-range effort went wide.

Forest’s seventh corner of the half led to the second goal in the 43th minute. Fenerbahce switched off at the near post, Gibbs-White flicked the ball across goal, and Igor Jesus met it at the back post to head home, sending Forest into halftime with a comfortable 0–2 lead.

Nottingham Forest nearly conceded just after the restart, as Cherif was sent through on goal in the 46th minute, but Ortega reacted brilliantly, diving to his left to tip the well-hit effort behind for a corner after Forest were caught sleeping at the back.

Forest quickly regained control and extended their lead in the 50th minute. Hutchinson lifted a ball over the defence for Igor Jesus, who raced onto it and squared it across the box for Gibbs-White to tap in. The goal was briefly checked by VAR for offside, but it was eventually given, making it 0–3 and putting Forest firmly in dreamland.

Fenerbahce tried to respond, and in the 69th minute Asensio almost produced a moment of magic, latching onto a cross and back-heeling the ball towards goal, but Ortega was equal to the effort and kept it out.

Forest could have added a fourth late on, as Dominguez pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area in the 84th minute, but he curled his shot over the bar, missing a big chance to further increase the margin.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

First leg

Thursday

Brann - Bologna 0-1 (0-1)

/Castro 9/

Dinamo Zagreb - Genk 1-3 (1-2)

/Beljo 44 - Heynen 15, El Ouahdi 21, 90/

Fenerbahce - Nottingham Forest 0-3 (0-2)

/Murillo 21, Jesus 43, Gibbs-White 50/

PAOK - Celta Vigo 1-2 (0-2)

/Jeremejeff 77 - Aspas 34, Swedberg 43/

23.00: (3.25) Celtic (3.60) Stuttgart (2.25)

23.00: (1.72) Lille (4.05) Crvena zvezda (5.35)

23.00: (2.70) Ludogorets (3.25) Ferencvaros (2.90)

23.00: (2.45) Panathinaikos (3.20) Plzen (3.25)

***odds are subject to change***