Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Prediction: Nottingham Forest and FC Midtjylland are predicted to draw 2-2 in their Europa League Round of 16 first leg at the City Ground on March 12, 2026, as both teams possess strong attacking quality but Forest’s poor home form (one win in eight) and Midtjylland’s impressive European record (third in the League Phase with 19 points) point toward a high-scoring, evenly contested first leg.
Key Facts
- Nottingham Forest host FC Midtjylland at the City Ground on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 8:00 PM GMT in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg.
- Midtjylland won the reverse fixture 3-2 at the City Ground during the League Phase in October 2025 under former Forest boss Ange Postecoglou.
- Igor Jesus is the joint-top scorer in the Europa League this season with seven goals in eight appearances for Forest.
- Midtjylland finished third in the Europa League League Phase with 19 points, while Forest finished 13th with 14 points.
- Forest are winless in four matches across all competitions heading into this tie.
- Chris Wood, Nicolo Savona, John Victor, and Willy Boly are all ruled out for Forest with knee injuries.
- Franculino (21 goals this season) misses out for Midtjylland through injury, and Dario Osorio is suspended.
Match Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | UEFA Europa League 2025/26 – Round of 16, First Leg |
| Date & Time | Thursday, March 12, 2026 – 8:00 PM GMT |
| Venue | The City Ground, Nottingham, England |
| Forest Manager | Vitor Pereira |
| Midtjylland Manager | Mike Tullberg |
| Forest League Phase Finish | 13th (W4 D2 L2 – 14 points) |
| Midtjylland League Phase Finish | 3rd (W6 D1 L1 – 19 points) |
| Previous Meeting | Nottingham Forest 2–3 FC Midtjylland (Oct 3, 2025) |
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Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Preview
Nottingham Forest return to European knockout football with a point to prove.
Vitor Pereira’s side scraped through the League Phase in 13th place and then overcame Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate in the playoff round, highlighted by a stunning 3-0 first-leg away victory in Istanbul.
That result, however, feels like a distant memory. Forest have not won in four consecutive matches across all competitions, a run that includes a 2-1 loss at Brighton, a 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool, and a 2-2 draw against Manchester City.
Their home form is particularly alarming — just one win in eight games at the City Ground.
FC Midtjylland, by contrast, arrive in Nottingham riding a wave of confidence. The Danish side were one of the standout performers in the League Phase, finishing third with 19 points from eight matches.
They beat Celtic, Genk, Dinamo Zagreb, Sturm Graz, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, with their only defeat coming away to Roma.
Domestically, Mike Tullberg’s squad are unbeaten in five, and they recently secured a place in the Danish Cup final by edging past Aarhus GF on aggregate.
The psychological edge belongs to Midtjylland. They already know they can win at the City Ground after their 3-2 triumph in October, a result that still stings for Forest supporters.
Pereira, who was not in charge for that defeat, will frame this as a fresh start — but the task is significant against a side that has lost just once in European competition all season.
Predicted Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Lineups and Formations
Nottingham Forest (Predicted 4-2-3-1): Stefan Ortega; Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams; Ibrahim Sangare, Elliot Anderson; Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus
FC Midtjylland (Predicted 3-4-1-2): Elias Olafsson; Erlic, Bech Sorensen, Diao; Kevin Mbabu, Philip Billing, Castillo, Bak; Aral Simsir; Gue-sung Cho, Junior Brumado
Pereira is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 system with natural wingers in Hutchinson and Hudson-Odoi providing width.
Midtjylland’s 3-4-1-2 relies on wing-back overloads and a compact midfield triangle, with Billing — the former Bournemouth man — anchoring the engine room.
Injuries and Suspensions: Key Absences That Could Shift the Game
Nottingham Forest face a significant injury crisis. Chris Wood, their most reliable Premier League goalscorer, remains sidelined with a knee problem.
Defensive options are also thin — Nicolo Savona, John Victor, and Willy Boly are all out with knee injuries, leaving Pereira short of cover at the back.
January signing Luca Netz was not registered for the Europa League squad, further limiting options. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is a doubt with a calf issue sustained before the Manchester City draw; if he fails a fitness test, Matz Sels will continue between the posts.
Wood’s absence is the most damaging. Without his hold-up play and aerial threat, Forest lose a crucial outlet and must rely entirely on Igor Jesus to lead the line.
FC Midtjylland will be without their top scorer Franculino, who has netted 21 goals across all competitions this season.
His absence strips Tullberg’s side of their most potent attacking weapon. Winger Dario Osorio is also unavailable through suspension after accumulating yellow cards.
These are massive losses, but Midtjylland have depth — Junior Brumado and Gue-sung Cho are capable replacements in attack.
Tactical Analysis: Where the Match Will Be Won and Lost
Forest’s vulnerability lies in defensive transitions. Their 4-2-3-1 shape can leave gaps between the midfield and backline, particularly when Gibbs-White pushes forward.
Midtjylland’s wing-backs, especially Mbabu on the right, will look to exploit the channels behind Williams and Aina.
Midtjylland’s 3-4-1-2 is designed to control the central areas. Billing and Castillo will aim to dominate the midfield battle against Sangare and Anderson.
The key tactical duel is Simsir operating between the lines — if Forest’s centre-backs step out to press him, space opens for Cho and Brumado to run in behind.
For Forest, the route to success runs through Igor Jesus. The Brazilian striker has been sensational in Europe with seven goals in eight games, making him the competition’s joint-top scorer.
His movement, finishing, and ability to press from the front give Forest a genuine match-winner. Morgan Gibbs-White is the creative heartbeat — his passing range and ability to find pockets of space will be critical in unlocking Midtjylland’s three-man defence.
Where to Watch Live?
| Country | Broadcaster/Platform |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1, discovery+, TNT Sports Ultimate |
| United States | Paramount+, TUDN, UniMás, ViX |
| Germany | RTL+, Sky Sport Top Event |
| France | Canal+ Foot, Canal+ Live 2 |
| Italy | Sky Sport 253, TV8, NOW TV |
| Spain | Movistar+ |
| Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada |
| Australia | Stan Sport |
| India | Sony LIV, Sony TEN 1/2/3, JioTV |
Head-to-Head Record
These two clubs have met only once before — Midtjylland’s 3-2 victory at the City Ground on October 3, 2025.
That result marked the first-ever competitive meeting between the sides. Midtjylland have a notable history against English clubs: they famously beat Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United 2-1 in a Europa League last-32 first leg back in February 2016.
Against English opposition in major European competition, the Danish club have won two of five encounters.
Europa League Standings Comparison
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points | Phase Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Midtjylland | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 19 | 3rd |
| Nottingham Forest | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 14 | 13th |
Midtjylland’s League Phase numbers are striking — 18 goals scored in eight matches reflects genuine attacking firepower, even without Franculino for this tie. Forest’s 15 goals are respectable, driven largely by Igor Jesus’s prolific form.
Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Prediction
This tie is finely balanced, but Midtjylland’s superior European form and confidence give them a slight edge.
Forest’s home struggles — one win in eight at the City Ground — are a genuine concern, and the absence of Chris Wood limits their attacking variety.
Midtjylland will miss Franculino, but their collective quality and tactical discipline should see them compete strongly.
Predicted Score: Nottingham Forest 2-2 FC Midtjylland.
Goals are almost guaranteed between these two sides — three or more goals have been scored in seven of Forest’s eight Europa League matches and five of Midtjylland’s eight.
The first leg in October produced five goals, and Thursday’s encounter should follow a similar pattern.
Forest will fight hard at home, but Midtjylland have the quality and belief to take a valuable away result back to Denmark.
Also Read Stuttgart vs Porto Prediction.
FAQs
Where To Watch Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Live?
Fans can watch Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ in the UK, Paramount+ and TUDN in the USA, DAZN in Canada, Stan Sport in Australia, Sony LIV and Sony TEN in India, Canal+ Foot in France, RTL+ and Sky Sport in Germany, Movistar+ in Spain, and Sky Sport 253 and TV8 in Italy for the Europa League Round of 16 first leg on March 12, 2026.
Who Will Win Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Match?
Neither team is expected to win as both Nottingham Forest and FC Midtjylland are predicted to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw, with Forest’s poor home form (one win in eight at the City Ground) offsetting their home advantage while Midtjylland’s strong European pedigree (third in the League Phase) keeps them competitive away from home.
What is Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Match Kick-Off Time?
Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland kicks off at 8:00 PM GMT on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the City Ground in Nottingham for the Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 first leg.
Are There Any Injuries in Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Match?
Nottingham Forest are missing four players through knee injuries — Chris Wood, Nicolo Savona, John Victor, and Willy Boly — while goalkeeper Stefan Ortega faces a late fitness test on a calf problem, and FC Midtjylland lose top scorer Franculino (21 goals this season) to injury alongside winger Dario Osorio, who serves a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.
What Is The Correct Score Prediction For Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland Match?
The correct score prediction for Nottingham Forest vs FC Midtjylland is 2-2, based on both teams’ high-scoring Europa League records — three or more goals featured in seven of Forest’s eight League Phase matches and five of Midtjylland’s eight — and their previous meeting at the City Ground which produced five goals in a 3-2 Midtjylland victory.
FC Midtjylland Standing with Points?
FC Midtjylland finished 3rd in the 2025/26 Europa League League Phase standings with 19 points from eight matches (W6 D1 L1), scoring 18 goals and conceding 8 with a goal difference of +10, which earned them automatic qualification to the Round of 16 without needing to play in the knockout round playoffs.
Nottingham Forest Standing With Points?
Nottingham Forest finished 13th in the 2025/26 Europa League League Phase standings with 14 points from eight matches (W4 D2 L2), scoring 15 goals and conceding 7 with a goal difference of +8, which placed them in the knockout round playoffs where they defeated Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Round of 16.