The final roar of the Europa League league phase arrives at The City Ground tonight, Thursday, January 29, 2026, as Nottingham Forest hosts Ferencváros. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET).
This is a high-stakes finale for both clubs. Ferencváros sits in 7th place (15 points) and is one of only three teams still unbeaten in the competition; a win tonight guarantees them a direct spot in the Round of 16. Nottingham Forest occupies 16th place (11 points) and has already secured a play-off spot, but they have a slim mathematical chance of sneaking into the top eight if they win and several other results go their way.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | UEFA Europa League (Matchday 8) |
| Date | Thursday, January 29, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET |
| Venue | The City Ground, Nottingham, England |
| Referee | Sebastian Gishamer (Austria) |
| TV Channel | TNT Sports (UK) / Paramount+ (US) / M4 Sport (Hungary) |
Nottingham Forest: The Dyche Defiance
Under Sean Dyche, Forest has become a formidable force at home in Europe, winning their last two Europa League matches at the City Ground by an aggregate score of 5–0. They arrive fresh off a morale-boosting 2–0 Premier League win at Brentford, looking to shake off a bizarre 1–0 defeat to Braga last week where they missed a penalty and scored an own goal.
Team News and Selection:
Midfield Void: Elliot Anderson is suspended after his red card in Portugal. Furthermore, Douglas Luiz has officially departed after his loan from Juventus was cut short this week
Injury Report: Chris Wood (knee) and goalkeeper John Victor (knee) remain long-term absentees. Defender Nicolo Savona is a major doubt.
Key Man: Morgan Gibbs-White will be the creative pivot, supporting striker Igor Jesus, who has found his scoring touch in January.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenković, Murillo, Morato; Sangaré, Yates; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Igor Jesus.
Ferencváros: Keane’s Unbeaten "Green Eagles"
Managed by Robbie Keane, Ferencváros has been one of the stories of the tournament. They remain undefeated after seven matches (4W, 3D), having already claimed the scalps of Rangers and RB Salzburg. However, they are adjusting to life without star striker Barnabás Varga, who transferred to AEK Athens earlier this month.
Team News and Selection:
Defensive Absences: Toon Raemaekers is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, and Stefan Gartenmann is out with an injury.
Varga’s Successor: Bamidele Yusuf and Kristoffer Zachariassen are expected to shoulder the scoring burden in the wake of Varga's departure.
Midfield Engine: Mohammed Abu Fani remains the heartbeat of the team, leading the competition in successful long passes.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dibusz; Makreckis, Cissé, Szalai, Civic; Maïga, Abu Fani; Traoré, Zachariassen, Kady; Yusuf.
? League Phase Standings (The Top-8 Battle)
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
| 6 | Ajax | 7 | +7 | 15 |
| 7 | Ferencváros | 7 | +5 | 15 |
| 8 | Real Betis | 7 | +4 | 14 |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 7 | +4 | 11 |
Tactical Analysis and Prediction
This match features a clash of styles: Dyche’s direct, high-intensity English approach vs. Keane’s organized, counter-attacking system. Forest will look to use the pace of Elanga and Hudson-Odoi to exploit the absences in the Ferencváros backline. However, the Hungarian side has shown incredible composure away from home this season, specializing in frustrating bigger opponents and hitting them on the break.
While Forest has the home advantage, Ferencváros’s desire to protect their unbeaten status and stay in the top eight may lead to a cautious, tactical encounter.
Final Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1–1 Ferencváros
