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Futmetrix Verdict
88
FT
Thu, Oct 2
Nottingham Forest
2-3
FC Midtjylland
โšก Intensity 100
โš–๏ธ Balance 66
๐Ÿ† Stakes 0
๐ŸŽฒ Upset 0
Midtjylland steal five-goal City Ground thriller.

Win Probability

  • Nottingham Forest 10%
  • Draw 27%
  • FC Midtjylland 63%

Futmetrix AI estimate

Danish Raiders Plunder the City Ground in Five-Goal Classic

Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 88/100. A relentless display of clinical finishing helped Midtjylland survive a Nottingham Forest siege and snatch a vital European victory.

Early Chaos

European nights at the City Ground demand a specific kind of energy, and this tie delivered an opening act completely devoid of caution. The Intensity was off the charts as both sides traded devastating blows in a wild six-minute spell. FC Midtjylland drew first blood when O. Diao finished coolly in the 18th minute, stunning the home crowd. But Nottingham Forest refused to buckle. Roared on by the Trent End, they struck back almost immediately through D. Ndoye, who converted a sharp pass from M. Gibbs-White. Before the home fans could even sit down, the Danish outfit retaliated. M. Bech Sorensen turned from provider to executioner, restoring the visitors' lead in the 24th minute to cap off an absurd sequence of attacking football.

The Goalkeeper's Resistance

Finding themselves behind, the hosts threw everything forward, tipping the Balance of play entirely in their direction. Forest dominated possession, hoarding 61% of the ball and peppering the opposition box with an astonishing 22 shots. However, they found themselves repeatedly stonewalled by an inspired Elรญas ร“lafsson. The Midtjylland goalkeeper was a one-man defensive wall, pulling off seven massive saves to frustrate a relentless attacking unit. Elliot Anderson pulled the strings masterfully for the home side, carving out six key passes and dictating the tempo, but the sheer volume of Forest pressure failed to yield an equaliser from open play. The visitors absorbed wave after wave of corners and crosses, riding their luck while waiting for the perfect moment to spring a counter-attack.

Late Drama and Resolution

With the Stakes rising in the dying moments of this League Stage encounter, both managers rolled the dice. It was the Danish side's substitutions that delivered the killer blow. In the 88th minute, D. Osorio broke free and set up V. Byskov to seemingly put the tie out of reach. Yet, this incredible contest still had one final twist left in its tail. A dramatic VAR intervention deep into stoppage time confirmed a penalty for Forest after Anderson was brought down in the box. C. Wood confidently dispatched the spot-kick in the 90th minute, sparking a frantic finale. Ultimately, Midtjylland's ruthless efficiencyโ€”scoring three times from just five shots on targetโ€”was the deciding factor, leaving Forest empty-handed despite their overwhelming territorial control.

Key Questions

What caused the 5-goal thriller?

A wild six-minute spell yielded three early goals, while ruthless Danish finishing perfectly countered Forest's massive volume of 22 shots and relentless high-pressing tactics.

How did substitute Dan Ndoye change the game?

While not a substitute tonight, Ndoye was instrumental early on, dragging Forest back into the tie with a crucial 22nd-minute equaliser from a Gibbs-White setup.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
61%
39%
Nottingham Forest 61%
FC Midtjylland 39%
Shots
22
8
Nottingham Forest 22
FC Midtjylland 8
Shots on Target
9
5
Nottingham Forest 9
FC Midtjylland 5
Expected Goals (xG)
2.05
2.10
Nottingham Forest 2.05
FC Midtjylland 2.10
Passes
466
287
Nottingham Forest 466
FC Midtjylland 287
Pass Accuracy
86%
78%
Nottingham Forest 86%
FC Midtjylland 78%
Corners
10
8
Nottingham Forest 10
FC Midtjylland 8
Fouls
14
15
Nottingham Forest 14
FC Midtjylland 15
Yellow Cards
3
2
Nottingham Forest 3
FC Midtjylland 2
Red Cards
0
0
Nottingham Forest 0
FC Midtjylland 0

Match Events

1' ๐ŸŸจ Morato
O. Diao (M. Bech Sorensen) โšฝ 18'
22' โšฝ D. Ndoye (M. Gibbs-White)
M. Bech Sorensen (M. Erlic) โšฝ 24'
28' ๐Ÿ”„ โ†“ Murillo โ†‘N. Savona
HT
Kevin Mbabu ๐ŸŸจ 55'
โ†“ A. Simsir โ†‘D. Osorio ๐Ÿ”„ 58'
โ†“ K. Mbabu โ†‘Lee Han-Beom ๐Ÿ”„ 66'
โ†“ D. Castillo โ†‘P. Bravo ๐Ÿ”„ 66'
โ†“ Cho Gue-Sung โ†‘V. Byskov ๐Ÿ”„ 66'
72' ๐ŸŸจ Igor Jesus
75' ๐Ÿ”„ โ†“ Igor Jesus โ†‘C. Wood
76' ๐ŸŸจ Morgan Gibbs-White
โ†“ Junior Brumado โ†‘Franculino ๐Ÿ”„ 87'
V. Byskov (D. Osorio) โšฝ 88'
90' โšฝ C. Wood
90'+1 โ€ข Elliot Anderson
Ousmane Diao ๐ŸŸจ 90'+4
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Nottingham Forest

Goalkeepers
Matz Sels
SIEVE
SIEVE
25%
Save %
25%
Save %
3
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
Nikola Milenkoviฤ‡
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Morato
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
60%
Pass Acc
Murillo
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Dan Ndoye
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.7
Rating
Elliot Anderson
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
6
Key Passes
6
Key Passes
0
Assists
58%
Pass Acc
Ibrahim Sangarรฉ
MAGNET
MAGNET
73
Activity
73
Activity
64
Passes
9
Duels
Neco Williams
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Morgan Gibbs-White
MAGNET
MAGNET
53
Activity
53
Activity
38
Passes
15
Duels
Igor Jesus
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Callum Hudson-Odoi
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
BENCH
John Victor Furtado
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Willy Boly
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolรฒ Savona
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Zach Abbott
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolรกs Domรญnguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Yates
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James McAtee
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chris Wood
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
7.3
Rating
Arnaud Kalimuendo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dilane Bakwa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

FC Midtjylland

Goalkeepers
Elรญas Rafn ร“lafsson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Ousmane Diao
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.2
Rating
Martin Erliฤ‡
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Mads Bech Sรธrensen
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Midfielders
Kevin Mbabu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Denil Castillo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
66
Entry
Philip Billing
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Victor Bak Jensen
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Jรบnior Brumado
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
12
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Cho Gue-Sung
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
66
Entry
Aral ลžimลŸir
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Jonas Lรถssl
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lee Han-Beom
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adam Gabriel
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Paulo Victor
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Darรญo Osorio
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
32
Minutes
6.5
Rating
Pedro Bravo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Valdemar Byskov
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
88
Goal Time
88
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
Daniel Silva
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Franculino Djรบ
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edward Chilufya
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mikel Gogorza
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Friday Etim
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
03/12/2026 Nottingham Forest 0 - 1 FC Midtjylland UEFA Europa League City Ground
10/02/2025 Nottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland UEFA Europa League City Ground
03/12/2026
UEFA Europa League City Ground
10/02/2025
UEFA Europa League City Ground
Nottingham Forest Win
FC Midtjylland Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Dinamo Zagreb 2 6 6 2 +4 WMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)WDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahรงe (24-09-2025)
2 FC Midtjylland 2 6 5 2 +3 WNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)WFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
3 Aston Villa 2 6 3 0 +3 WFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)WAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
4 Lyon 2 6 3 0 +3 WLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)WUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
5 SC Braga 2 6 3 0 +3 WCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)WSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
6 Lille 2 6 3 1 +2 WAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
7 FC Porto 2 6 3 1 +2 WFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)WRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
8 Plzen 2 4 4 1 +3 WPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
9 Real Betis 2 4 4 2 +2 WLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
10 SC Freiburg 2 4 3 2 +1 DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)WSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
11 Ferencvarosi TC 2 4 2 1 +1 WGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
12 Panathinaikos 2 3 5 3 +2 LPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)WBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
13 Celta Vigo 2 3 4 3 +1 WCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)LVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
14 FC Basel 1893 2 3 3 2 +1 WFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)LSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
15 Brann 2 3 2 2 0 WBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
16 GO Ahead Eagles 2 3 2 2 0 WPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)LGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
17 AS Roma 2 3 2 2 0 LAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
18 Genk 2 3 1 1 0 LGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)WRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)
19 BSC Young Boys 2 3 3 4 -1 WFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)LBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
20 Fenerbahรงe 2 3 3 4 -1 WFenerbahรงe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahรงe (24-09-2025)
21 VfB Stuttgart 2 3 2 3 -1 LFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)WVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
22 Ludogorets 2 3 2 3 -1 LLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)WMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)
23 Sturm Graz 2 3 2 3 -1 WSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
24 FCSB 2 3 1 2 -1 LFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)WGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
25 Nottingham Forest 2 1 4 5 -1 LNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
26 FK Crvena Zvezda 2 1 2 3 -1 LFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
27 Bologna 2 1 1 2 -1 DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)LAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
28 Celtic 2 1 1 3 -2 LCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
29 Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 1 1 3 -2 LMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
30 PAOK 2 1 1 3 -2 LCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
31 Nice 2 0 2 4 -2 LFenerbahรงe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
32 Rangers 2 0 1 3 -2 LSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)
33 Utrecht 2 0 0 2 -2 LBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
34 Feyenoord 2 0 0 3 -3 LFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)LSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
35 Red Bull Salzburg 2 0 0 3 -3 LLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)LRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
36 Malmo FF 2 0 1 5 -4 LPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)LMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)

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