Porto Form
The Portuguese side almost always reach the spring stage of European competition, yet the last time they featured at the quarter-final stage was in 2019 (in the Champions League). After that, they were mostly eliminated in the round of 16. This European season the club have looked confident and, after 10 matches, have suffered just one defeat, which came away against Nottingham Forest (0:2). In the other games, Porto have recorded seven wins and two draws. The team reached the quarter-finals thanks to victory in a two-legged tie against Stuttgart, beating them in both matches – 2:1 and 2:0.
- The club have won five of their last six Europa League matches (one draw).
- Exactly two or three goals have been scored in eight of Porto’s last nine matches in this tournament.
- Both teams have scored in four of the Portuguese side’s last five matches in this European competition.
Potential Porto Lineup (4-3-3)*
Diogo Costa – Jan Bednarek, Zaidu Sanusi, Thiago Silva, Alberto Costa – Sekou Fofana, Rodrigo Mora, Pablo Rosario – Borja Sainz, William Gomes, Terem Moffi.
Midfielder Andre Castro will miss the match through suspension. Forwards Luuk de Jong and Samu are out injured.
Nottingham Forest Form
The team’s first European season of this century has been mixed and not particularly convincing, yet they have already reached the quarter-finals, despite being close to going out in the previous round. The English side finished the league phase in 15th place, losing two of their eight matches. They then went into the play-offs, where they progressed past Fenerbahce on aggregate (3:0 and 1:2). In the round of 16, Nottingham Forest only edged past Midtjylland with great difficulty, needing a penalty shootout (0:1 and 2:1, a.e.t. 0:0, pens 3:0).
- The club’s run of decisive results in the Europa League stands at eight matches (five wins and three defeats).
- Nottingham Forest have conceded in five of their last seven matches in this European competition.
- The English side have avoided defeat in five of their last six away matches in this tournament (three wins and two draws).
Potential Nottingham Forest Lineup (3-4-2-1)*
Stefan Ortega – Nikola Milenkovic, Morato, Zac Abbott – Dilane Bakwa, Ryan Yates, Dan Ndoye, Nicolas Dominguez – James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson – Lorenzo Lucca.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson is unavailable due to suspension. The team’s injury list includes forward Chris Wood, defenders Willy Boly and Nicola Savona, and goalkeeper John Victor.
Referee
Marco Guida (Italy)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 23;
Yellow cards per match (average) – 2.6;
Red cards shown – 0;
Fouls per match (average) – 22;
Penalties – 22%.
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match in this tournament is listed.
