UEFA Europa League Quarter-finals
Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 FT FC Porto
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
J. Bednarek 8'
12' M. Gibbs-White (N. Williams)
16' ↓ C. Wood ↑Igor Jesus
T. Moffi 32'
A. Costa 36'
40' O. Hutchinson
HT
↓ Zaidu ↑F. Moura 46'
↓ G. Veiga ↑J. Kiwior 46'
↓ A. Costa ↑V. Froholdt 46'
↓ B. Sainz ↑A. Varela 46'
46' ↓ O. Hutchinson ↑C. Hudson-Odoi
65' ↓ D. Ndoye ↑N. Milenkovic
↓ T. Moffi ↑D. Gul 66'
72' ↓ Murillo ↑Morato
72' ↓ C. Hudson-Odoi ↑D. Bakwa
William Gomes 90'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Nottingham Forest
Goalkeepers
Stefan Ortega 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Ola Aina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jair
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Murillo 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Neco Williams 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
59%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Ibrahim Sangaré 
MAGNET
86
Activity
86
Activity
74
Passes
12
Duels
Nicolás Domínguez
MAGNET
74
Activity
74
Activity
63
Passes
11
Duels
Omari Hutchinson
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Morgan Gibbs-White 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Dan Ndoye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Forwards
Chris Wood
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
16
Entry
BENCH
Keehan Willows 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matz Sels
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Nikola Milenković
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zach Abbott
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Morato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James McAtee
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jimmy Sinclair
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Yates
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Igor Jesus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Callum Hudson-Odoi
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
Dilane Bakwa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lorenzo Lucca
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
FC Porto
Goalkeepers
Diogo Costa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Alberto Costa 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Thiago Silva 
SHIELD
4
Blocks
4
Blocks
0
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Jan Bednarek 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
1
Fouls
3
Rating
Zaidu Sanusi
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Seko Fofana
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Pablo Rosario
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabri Veiga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
William Gomes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Terem Moffi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Borja Sainz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
BENCH
João Costa
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Claudio Ramos
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jakub Kiwior
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
86%
Duel Win %
Francisco Moura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dominik Prpić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabriel Brás
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Victor Froholdt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alan Varela
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rodrigo Mora
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tiago Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Deniz Gül
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pepê
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/09/2026 | FC Porto | 1 - 1 | Nottingham Forest | UEFA Europa League | Estádio do Dragão |
| 10/23/2025 | Nottingham Forest | 2 - 0 | FC Porto | UEFA Europa League | City Ground |
04/09/2026
10/23/2025
Nottingham Forest Win
FC Porto Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Early Chaos Sends Forest to Europa Semis
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 47/100. An explosive opening twelve minutes decided this quarter-final tie, with the home side ruthlessly exploiting an early dismissal to march into the final four.
Early Ejection & Immediate Punishment
Let's start with the chaos. The Stakes were immense arriving at the City Ground tied 1-1 on aggregate, but FC Porto sabotaged their own night almost immediately. Eight minutes in, J. Bednarek saw straight red for a reckless challenge. It was a catastrophic lapse in discipline that ruined the visitors' tactical blueprint. Forest smelled blood instantly. Four minutes later, they struck the fatal blow. N. Williams carved open the shattered visiting defence, feeding M. Gibbs-White who buried the crucial opener. Just 12 minutes on the clock, and the tie was completely transformed. Forest had the lead, the numerical advantage, and the roaring home crowd behind them. The visitors were left clinging to the ropes.
The Pivot of Total Control
With the aggregate firmly poised at 2-1, the Balance of power shifted entirely to the home side. Nottingham Forest dominated possession, holding 61 percent of the ball and dictating the tempo of the tie. They strangled the midfield, largely thanks to an absolute masterclass from Ibrahim Sangaré. He swept up every loose ball, keeping the rhythm ticking while completely smothering any Portuguese counter-attacks. A barrage of 19 total shots turned the penalty area into a shooting gallery, keeping the away goalkeeper incredibly busy. Despite the volume, Forest failed to add a comfortable second. Porto, meanwhile, managed just a single shot on target all evening, suffocated by the numerical disadvantage and a relentless pressing scheme from the hosts.
Semi-Final Bound
The final whistle brought absolute delirium to the banks of the Trent. While the scoreboard showed a narrow 1-0 victory on the night, the Intensity of Forest's approach ensured they were rarely in danger of an upset. They navigated the remaining 80 minutes with professional, clinical authority, completing over 460 accurate passes to run a ten-man Porto ragged across the pitch. The Portuguese giants crash out of Europe, left to bitterly rue what might have been without that disastrous early sending off. For Forest, the European dream accelerates rapidly. They progress to the semi-finals, riding a massive wave of momentum that could ultimately define their entire season and cement their status as genuine contenders.
Key Questions
How did the red card for J. Bednarek impact the match?
The 8th-minute dismissal crippled Porto's structure, allowing Forest to dominate possession, score four minutes later, and cruise through the remaining 80 minutes with a man advantage.
What does this mean for Nottingham Forest's season?
It secures their spot in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, continuing a magical European run that serves as the absolute crown jewel of their current campaign.
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.
Winner Takes All at the City Ground
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 91/100. With the tie balanced on a knife-edge after a 1-1 first leg, this quarter-final clash promises high-stakes drama as a semi-final berth awaits the victor.
The Setup
After a tense 1-1 draw in Portugal, Nottingham Forest welcome FC Porto to the City Ground on April 16, 2026. William Gomes struck early for Porto in the opening leg, but an unfortunate own goal by M. Fernandes leveled the aggregate score. Now, the equation is thrillingly simple: win the match, advance to the final four. The underlying metrics point to a massive European night, with an exceptionally high Balance rating indicating these two sides are nearly impossible to separate on paper. The hosts enter with a strong Form rating following a gritty WLWWD run, while Porto boast an unbeaten WDWWD streak of their own. Given the immense Stakes of a quarter-final decider and a high Stars rating driven by elite attacking quality, expect breathless tension from the first whistle.
Key Battle
With no single individual duel dominating the tactical board, this tie will be won or lost in the midfield transition. The home side's engine room must dictate the tempo and break pressing lines, while the visitors' backline will need to maintain intense positional discipline to absorb the hostile atmosphere and launch lethal counters.
Our Prediction
We expect Nottingham Forest to leverage their raucous home support to edge a fiercely contested match. It will likely remain tight and cautious early on, but a late surge could secure a narrow 2-1 victory for the hosts, sending them through to the semi-finals.