Ferencvaros (H) 29/01/26

Nottingham Forest 4-0 Ferencvaros

Otvos OG 17'

Jesus 21', 55'

McAtee (Pen) 90'

The last game of the Europa League league phase; still lots to fight for for both sides. Forest were guaranteed a playoff place but they needed to finish as high up as the table as possible to guarantee the second leg would be at the City Ground. It would also mean they would play a side lower down the league. Automatic qualification through the top eight wasn’t completely out the equation for the Reds. If a few other results went their way, it would save the nerves of the playoffs. On the other hand, Ferencvaros needed a win to confirm their place in the top eight.

Last time out in the competition, Forest lost 1-0 in Braga. This killed their hopes of automatic qualification. They also became only the second side in Europa League history to lose despite not facing a single shot on target. They would have confidence going into this game after a crucial win in their relegation battle away at Brentford. Dyche named five changes from this game as he rested some key players. Ferencvaros sat 7^th going into the game and are unbeaten in all their games in the competition so far, winning four and drawing three. Last week in the tournament, they drew 1-1 at home to Panathinaikos but in their most recent game in their respective league, they lost 3-1 to Gyori ETO. Robbie Keane also made five changes from this fixture. The Hungarian side do not have a great record in England. They have lost six of their nine away matches against English sides, with their only win coming against Liverpool in 1968.

The visitors almost took an early lead, just five minutes in. They had won a corner on the left which Kanichowksy played short to Levi. He whipped the ball into the box which Zachariassen met at the near post but his header crashed off the post. Ferencvaros had started quite well but an own goal had set them back. Yates won the ball back deep into the visitor’s half which McAtee picked up before driving towards goal. Yates made a run down the right which was found by McAtee. He played the ball across the box first time, which was poked home at the far post by Otvos.

Just minutes later, the Reds found themselves doubling their advantage. Yates pounced on a loose touch from Cadu, sliding in to win the ball. Igor Jesus picked it up and dribbled towards goal before shooting from the edge of the box and finding the bottom left corner. This goal continued Forest’s spark and they completely dominated, creating even more chances to extend their lead. Ferencvaros looked completely out of this but before half time, Zachariassen’s looping header had to be tipped over by Sels.

The second half continued as the first ended; Forest on top, pushing for more goals. Yates made a completely unmarked run into the left of the box which was found by Dominguez. He drove towards the byline before getting a shot away from a tight angle. Grof made the save, parrying it to the other side of the box where Abbott recycled the ball. He delivered in a delightful ball, straight onto Jesus’s head but his effort bounced just wide of the left post. The pressure continued to build on the visitors as Forest showed no sign of stopping. A corner from the right was half cleared by Szalai but back out to McAtee, the corner taker. He chipped it to the front post where an unmarked Dominguez flicked a header towards the far post. It looked to be looping under the bar but instead it crashed off the post before it was put behind for another corner.

It only took one more minute before the Reds finally found a third. From inside his own half, Sangare launched the ball forward, looking to find the run of Jesus. The striker managed to shrug off Otvos and hit the ball into the ground on the volley before it nestled in the bottom left corner. That’s now Jesus’ sixth goal in the Europa League this season.

After hitting the post in the opening minutes, Ferencvaros had now had one crash off the bar. Cadu and Zachariassen linked up down the left before Cadu whipped in an inch perfect ball for Bamidele in the six-yard box. He beat Williams to the ball but his header could only hit the woodwork before it was put behind for a corner. This moment couldn’t ignite Ferencvaros’ spark as Forest continued their attacking threat. Chances continued to fall for the hosts as they kept Grof busy.

In the final few minutes of the game, McAtee had the perfect opportunity to get a well-deserved goal. Yates whipped a ball into the box, looking for Ndoye. The Swiss went for the acrobatic overhead kick attempt but as he went for it, his shirt was pulled by Otvos, resulting in the referee giving a penalty. McAtee stepped up calmly firing it into the right side of the net for his first goal in a Forest shirt. This result saw both sides finish in the playoff places with Ferencvaros in 12^th and Forest in 13^th. The Hungarian side face Ludogorets Razgrad whilst the Reds face Fenerbahce.

It was nice to see such an attacking performance and to see us create loads of chances. Recently, the performances have been gritty and more about defending resolutely so it was nice to see the players have more freedom and creativity. I think we finally saw what McAtee can be capable of in a Forest shirt as he was brilliant. That goal will also give him confidence that I think he has been lacking in previous games. I also liked the pressure and intensity we went at them with and I think the entire team built into that. We now go onto the stress of the playoffs but I think we can beat Fenerbahce over two legs especially with the second being at the City Ground.

Forest: Sels; Williams (Aina 66’), Morato, Milenkovic (Murillo 78’), Abbott; Sangare (Gibbs-White 66’), Yates; Dominguez (Bakwa 84’), McAtee, Ndoye; Jesus (Hudson-Odoi 66’) 

Ferencvaros: Grof; Szalai, Cisse, Otvos; Cadu, Levi (Joseph 46’), Kanichowsky (Keita 73’), Romao (Golik 90’), Makreckis; Zachariassen (Madarasz 84’), Bamidele (Gruber 73’)