FC Porto (H) 23/10/25

Nottingham Forest 2-0 FC Porto

Gibbs-White 19' (Pen)

Igor Jesus 77' (Pen)

Just 19 minutes after the referee blew fulltime against Chelsea, Forest released a statement explaining Ange Postecoglou was sacked. One word for every day he was in charge: 39. After failing to win in eight games in charge, Marinakis decided his time was up. The atmosphere was growing toxic with every game and that is unknown during recent years at the City Ground. Many fans were against the appointment in the first place and they seemed to have been proved right.

In the following days after many names were thrown around: Marco Silva, Roberto Mancini, Rafa Banitez. But the man that was picked for the job was Sean Dyche. A similar style to Nuno Espirito Santo; strong, fit and organised. He would stop the Reds conceding from set pieces and make them more resolute. A former Forest academy player himself bought two Forest legends with him in Steve Stone and Ian Woan. Three men who know what the club means to the city and three men who will always fight for the badge. It all seemed the right fit. However, his first game in charge: FC Porto. A side who in eleven games in all competitions this season have won ten and drawn one. This would be Forest’s first ever major European meeting with a Portuguese opponent. English teams are unbeaten in the last ten Europa League meetings against Portuguese sides. Could Forest make it eleven?

The start Forest made was one Dyche would be pleased with. His side were getting into good attacking areas and keeping Porto away from their goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi received the ball on the halfway line down the left before driving 30 yards. He then cut in to get the ball onto his right foot and took on a shot curling towards the far corner. Costa got down well to save the effort which went behind for a corner. Just moments later, the hosts had the perfect opportunity to go ahead. Douglas Luiz whipped in a cross from the left looking for Igor Jesus but it hit the arm of Jan Bednarek and the referee pointed to the spot. Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up and drilled the ball into the bottom left corner with the ‘keeper diving the opposite way to get the Dyche era up and running.

Forest kept on top after taking the lead as the City Ground atmosphere was back at its best. As the first half drew to a close, the visitors had a good spell, forcing Sels into a good save. Porto had won a free-kick on the left which Pepe played sideways to Varela. He took on the strike from around 35 yards out on but Sels got down well, diving to his left, to parry the effort out for a corner. Apart from that one opportunity, Forest had kept Porto at arm’s length.

After half time, the hosts applied some early pressure but they thought their visitors had pulled a goal back. Forest hadn’t dealt with Porto’s short corners all game and this was another example. The corner from the left was passed around before it was finally crossed in. Kiwior’s original header was blocked by Williams but before Sels could collect the ball, Agehehowa got there first and his effort hit the Forest ‘keeper. Unfortunately, the ball landed to Bednarek who swept it in from around eight yards out. Upon review, VAR saw that Agehehowa had come from an offside position and the goal was chalked off. The disallowed goal gave Porto some confidence as they were getting forward but they never really troubled the Reds’ defence.

In the hunt to double their lead, the hosts piled on the pressure. Anderson fizzed out a lovely ball to Hudson-Odoi on the left who drove forward into the box. He looked to finish into the bottom right corner from around eight yards out but Bednarek got there at the last second to stick a leg out and block the shot. The English winger arguably should’ve done better with the space he had. That was quickly forgotten about as the Reds did go 2-0 up shortly after. After a cross from the left caused Porto some danger, Pepe seemed to be getting his side up the pitch. However, his touch was heavy and Douglas Luiz snatched the ball back. He found Savona just inside the box who looked to create room to shoot but as he did so, Martim Fernandes stuck out a leg to trip the Italian. The referee originally booked Savona for simulation but after rewatching the incident on the monitor, he awarded Forest a penalty. This time Igor Jesus stepped up and he confidently fired the ball down the middle to seal the three points for the Reds as they won in Europe for the first time since the 1995/96 season.

Thursday night was brilliant. We looked so much better than we had done, especially defensively, keeping such a good side at arm’s length. We definitely still need to work on our attacking threat as once again, we got in some good areas but that final pass or final shot was lacking. Porto’s goal being disallowed was definitely a huge moment in the game but sometimes all you need is that one to go your way. I thought the players’ hunger and fight was brilliant too and everyone really put in a shift to get that win and put it right. I thought Ndoye was one of those players who really worked hard both offensively and defensively and Igor’s number nine play was also brilliant. Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi also played much better but my man of the match was Douglas Luiz. I’m very happy for the defence and Sels to get their first clean sheet since April 1^st and it was much deserved based on their performance. I was glad to see the City Ground bouncing and the players engaging the crowd on every throw-in or goal-kick won as that’s really been missed.

Forest: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Zinchenko (Savona 45'); Ndoye, Luiz (Yates 85'), Anderson (Sangare 90'), Hudson-Odoi; Gibbs-White; Igor Jesus 

FC Porto: Costa; Costa (Sanusi 76'), Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura (Fernandes 58'); Froholdt, Varela (Veiga 58'), Rosario; Pepe (Mora 84'), Aghehowa, Sainz (Gomes 58')