Official Europa League Quarter Final 2nd Leg Matchday Thread #14. Nottingham Forest v FC Porto 16/04/2026. 20:00 (UK time)

Forest v Porto

  • HOME WIN - Porto pummelled

    Votes: 30 83.3%

  • AWAY WIN - Pork and Cheese‘d

    Votes: 1 2.8%

  • Jose Mourinho

    Votes: 5 13.9%
  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
Steve B

Steve B

John Robertson
“Istanbul. Aha.
Eating all your kebabs.
Sniffing all of your bags.
We’re all going Istanbul”
Benjamin Franklin

Right. The eagle has finally landed back on home soil after another memorable trip, time for a new Euro match thread.

After a bizarre own goal gifted Forest a fortunate draw in the Dragao, we now head into the decisive second match at the WFCG all square, to find out who is gonna make it into the last 4.

Nottingham Forest v FC Porto

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The two double-winning Euro Champions battle it out for a place in the semi-finals.

On the one hand Forest have beaten Porto 2-0 at home already this season in the earlier league stage match.

On the other hand Porto tore us to pieces in the first half an hour of the away leg and they looked like a top quality side.

On another hand Porto have an incredible pedigree in European football having qualified for UEFA competitions in every single season since 1974-75, whilst we’re novices in comparison, having been out in the wilderness for generations.

But on the other hand FC Porto don’t like playing in England - their record is Won 1 - Drawn 3 - Lost 20.

Whichever Forest team turns up and what type of attitude they have for this massive game, may well determine the outcome.

As Yatesy said after the first leg:
“We definitely could’ve played better and there’s things to improve upon, but there’s something special about the European games at the City Ground. They’re magical.”
Good owd Yatesy
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Past European Quarter Final nights at the World Famous City Ground

This will be our 5th Euro QF at home.
We’ve won 2 and lost 2 matches (although over both legs we only lost 1 tie). Weird coincidence I noticed - all 4 are German speaking places.
In the order they’ve gone so far, I’ve worked out we’re due a win!

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Forest 4 Grasshoppers Zurich 1 1978-79
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Forest 0 Dynamo Berlin 1 1979-80
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Forest 1 Sturm Graz 0 1983-84
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Forest 1 Bayern Munich 5 1995-96 😢

Come on Forest - there’s a little bit of my liver left for one or two more trips.
I predict it’s gonna get emotional.
 
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I'm now so stressed about the Europa and the Prem that I want the strongest team to at least start every game from here on in and see what happens, before making changes. We just cannot afford to take chances.

In the Prem, of course, survival is paramount and In the Europa, having struggled this far, please don't waste it and give it a blast before tinkering.
 
Porto didn't show us anything in the first leg to be scared of. Can't help but think it'll be more rotation from VP with the starting XI with the big guns waiting to come on if/when needed.

Funny feeling we'll see pennos again.
 
I think we can and will go strong from the start in this one. It’s such a huge opportunity, we just have to give it a go. I’m not underestimating the importance or difficulty of Burnley at all. But that feels like a game better suited to a Yates/Dominguez midfield, and maybe Taiwo, Ndoye, even Bakwa if necessary.

I’d go pretty much full strength, but maybe play Ortega as he was so good in the first leg. Things like that can have a subconscious impact on a forward when they are through on goal.
 
It’s not clear to me that the resting of players makes an enormous difference when it’s not in the middle/end of a massive fixture pile-up. We’re not in one now, and it didn’t look like it bothered Villa much at the weekend.

Half arse the line-up and we’re out, i believe. Go out there to win it, and then ease off with subs in the 2nd half.

I’d start Jesus because I’d start Chrissy Wood against Burnley. Ortega may also be the man for Europe. I could stomach changes on the wings too. But otherwise unchanged in the defence and the central midfield. If I see Morato in that first team I’m going to be sulky.
 
We can't afford to not win against Burnley. It's by far our best opportunity for a vital 3 points.

Our side on Thursday should hopefully reflect how important Sunday is.
 
YellowBelly Red said:
Certainly from Gamston to Radcliffe.

Believe its also shut from Bingham to Grantham as well.
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It's going to be a late one then. 😄
I sometimes wonder if they'll ever finish that road, there's always something wrong.
 
Massive occasion and a glorious opportunity to progress in Europe whilst giving every single player and fan a massive boost and also, fitting in with our manic season, complicating our relegation run in with the extra fixture load.

Win this and i think we beat Burnley and get something at Sunderland, the buzz would be palpable amongst the squad and fanbase which in turn would give us more leeway to go full pelt at a potential Europa Semi if other results go our way around us.

Lose and an already huge game against Burnley all of a sudden has our teeth clattering because despite an uplift in performances at the WFCG, we still can't get over the line in the league or in Europe. Thats the type of narrative we could do without before Sunday.

Personnel wise, i think its time to unleash our full load and go for it. The rest away to Porto has hopefully set the squad up to handle 3 home games in a week and Villa showed us yesterday that despite playing their full XI away to Bologna, they were ripe for most of the game yesterday.

Just one simple and stupid request, no more bastard rain for our home games. A nice clear crisp Spring evening Trentside and beat a good Porto team and magic will be in the air.
 
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Just one other quick note, Villa were by all accounts and from the 20 or so minute highlights i saw of them against Bologna, not yet home and hosed in that tie. Bologna really did scorch them for large parts of the game (Jonathan Rowe in particular) and they'll have nothing to lose at Villa Park.

Just worth keeping an eye on should we overcome Porto.
 
Browser79 said:
It’s not clear to me that the resting of players makes an enormous difference when it’s not in the middle/end of a massive fixture pile-up. We’re not in one now, and it didn’t look like it bothered Villa much at the weekend.

Half arse the line-up and we’re out, i believe. Go out there to win it, and then ease off with subs in the 2nd half.

I’d start Jesus because I’d start Chrissy Wood against Burnley. Ortega may also be the man for Europe. I could stomach changes on the wings too. But otherwise unchanged in the defence and the central midfield. If I see Morato in that first team I’m going to be sulky.
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It is the travelling that is the problem.

All the games this week are home games, no reason to rotate excessively based on that. Maybe sub them off 10 mins earlier than you normally would if it came to it.
 
isaacs said:
Just one other quick note, Villa were by all accounts and from the 20 or so minute highlights i saw of them against Bologna, not yet home and hosed in that tie. Bologna really did scorch them for large parts of the game (Jonathan Rowe in particular) and they'll have nothing to lose at Villa Park.

Just worth keeping an eye on should we overcome Porto.
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I watched their game the following day and I've got no idea how Bologna didn't beat them. I think Villa have used up a fair bit of luck recently.
 
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