Fenerbahce will take a break from their Super Lig title charge to welcome English Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie.

Two points and five places split the two sides in the League Phase table, as both sides missed out on automatic qualification to the Last 16.

The hosts are the only side yet to lose a match in the 2025/26 Super Lig, but remain three points behind Galatasaray in the league table.

They will pause their domestic endeavours, having won all three of their latest Super Lig matches, and will now take on a side who will have a new manager in the dugout for the fourth time this season.

Vitor Pereira arrives fresh from steering Wolves to the bottom of the Premier League and inherits a Forest side who are winless in their last three league games.

He is now in the hot seat, having taken over from Sean Dyche, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou, after he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo all within the same season.

Either owner Evangelos Marinakis just really likes sacking people, or p****** Forest fans off, or both. But either way, they have a tough tie in Istanbul on Thursday night.

What are the best bets for Fenerbahce vs Nottingham Forest?

Fenerbahce to win

Fenerbahce are amongst the Super Lig’s top goalscorers this season. Nottingham Forest are sure to struggle to keep them quiet.

It is total chaos at the City Ground right now, and the small matter of travelling to one of Europe’s most notoriously volatile cities probably won’t help matters.

I cannot see anything other than Fenerbahce winning in this match, and not only is this down to their form this season, but mainly because of the turmoil at Forest.

Karem Akturoglu or Anderson Talisca to score

Karem Akturoglu and Anderson Talisca have both netted four Europa League goals for Fenerbahce this season, so I’d be taking either one of them to get on the scoresheet here.

Where can I watch Fenerbahce vs Nottingham Forest?

TNT Sports and Discovery+ are the places to watch Thursday’s match live in the UK. Kick-off is at 17:45 GMT.

In the United States, TUDN USA and Paramount+ will screen coverage of this match. Kick-off is at 12:45 EST.

What is Fenerbahce’s form?

D-W-W-W-W

What is Nottingham Forest’s form?

W-W-D-L-D

What were the results of the last five head-to-head matches between Fenerbahce and Nottingham Forest?

These two sides have never played each other before; Nottingham Forest have never played a Turkish side before.

Fenerbahce have won only five of their 20 matches against English sides across European competitions

What is Fenerbahce’s predicted team?

Ederson – Semedo, Skriniar, Oosterwolde, Muldur – Kante, Guendouzi – Nene, Asensio, Akturkoglu – Talisca

Injured: Brown

Doubt: None

What is Nottingham Forest’s predicted team?

Gunn – Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams – Sangare, Anderson – Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi – Jesus

Injured: Wood, Victor, Sels, Boly

Doubt: Savona, Murillo

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