Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland Europa League Clash: How to Watch and Team News
Nottingham Forest will host Danish side Midtjylland in the Europa League round of 16 first leg on Thursday 12 March 2026, with the match set to kick off at 8pm GMT at the City Ground in Nottingham. This European fixture comes at a crucial time for Forest, who are embroiled in a tense Premier League survival battle, sitting just above the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of West Ham United.
TV and Streaming Information for UK Viewers
Football fans in the United Kingdom can watch the Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland match live on TNT Sports 1, with comprehensive coverage beginning at 7.45pm GMT. For those preferring to stream the action, a live broadcast will be available via the discovery+ platform, ensuring viewers do not miss a moment of this pivotal Europa League encounter.
Team News and Injury Updates
Nottingham Forest will be without several key players due to injuries, including striker Chris Wood, defender Willy Boly, and midfielders John Victor and Nicolo Savona. In a positive development, goalkeeper Matz Sels has been reinstated to their Europa League squad and is likely to start in goal, replacing Stefan Ortega who is nursing a calf issue.
Midtjylland face their own selection challenges, with the prolific forward Franculino Dju still sidelined, significantly weakening their attacking options. Additionally, midfielder Dario Osorio is suspended for this match after accumulating too many yellow cards in previous rounds.
Predicted Line-ups for the First Leg
Nottingham Forest expected XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.
Midtjylland expected XI: Olafsson; Erlic, Bech Sorensen, Diao; Mbabu, Billing, Castillo, Bak; Simsir; Cho, Brumado.
Match Context and Preview
This Europa League tie presents a complex scenario for Nottingham Forest, as manager Vitor Pereira must balance European ambitions with domestic survival concerns. However, Forest have previously used this competition to boost morale, notably with a 3-0 away victory against Fenerbahce in the knockout play-off round, which provided a significant energy injection following Pereira's appointment.
Midtjylland will not be underestimated, having demonstrated formidable form in the group stages by suffering only one defeat during the league phase to finish third in their table. The Danish club's disciplined approach and tactical organization are expected to pose a stern test for Forest, making this first leg a crucial battle in the quest for a quarter-final berth.
As both teams prepare for this high-stakes clash, the outcome could significantly influence Nottingham Forest's season trajectory, potentially providing either a welcome distraction or an unwelcome burden in their Premier League relegation fight.
