Brian Clough was still orchestrating moments of magic the last time Nottingham Forest competed in a European semi-final.
Clough’s achievements will never be matched or repeated, but this current generation of players now have Forest’s supporters dreaming of glory.
They will face Aston Villa in a full-English affair and a two-legged shoot-out to reach the final in Istanbul next month, with silverware so desperately sought after by these two historic clubs.
It has been a wildly unpredictable season for Forest, with four different managers and fluctuating fortunes, but there is still a chance of a memorable ending on two fronts.
Morgan Gibbs-White was the scorer of the game’s only goal and there was an emotional celebration in tribute to absent midfielder Elliot Anderson, whose mother passed away this week.
Forest’s players held up a jersey with the words “family first, we are all with you”.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026Morgan Gibbs-White fires his 12th goal of the season to give Nottingham Forest the lead ⚽️
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It was the dismissal of Porto centre-back Jan Bednarek after just eight minutes which was the pivotal incident in a tight, nervy contest.
Bednarek was sent off after a crude challenge on Forest’s Chris Wood and Forest did just enough to secure a path past Porto, who struck the crossbar twice but have now lost 22 of their 25 matches in England.
Wood was taken off injured, and Callum Hudson-Odoi left the stadium on crutches, potentially damaging Forest’s league mission.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026Big blows for Forest 👀
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Murillo are both forced off with injuries.
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Yet Forest will face Villa here in the first leg later this month with Vitor Pereira, sacked by Wolves in November after a torrid run of results, targeting a Europa League triumph.
“The club and the supporters deserve it but we don’t have time to celebrate. It is just Burnley on Sunday now and I can’t even think about Villa,” the Forest manager said.
“It is time to recover and come back mentally strong. We need to suffer together and we need to feel proud.”
You have to wind the clock back to 1984 when Forest last reached the last four in Europe, and that remains one of the most contentious matches in their history.
Older Forest fans will never forget the defeat by Anderlecht in the Uefa Cup second leg, where they witnessed a number of debatable decisions including a late disallowed goal by Paul Hart.
Years later it emerged that Anderlecht’s chairman, Constant Vanden Stock, had paid a £27,000 bribe to referee Emilio Guruceta Muro in exchange for help fixing the match.
Clough was deprived of what could have been a third European trophy.
These famous nights, when the floodlights beam back off the River Trent, have not come around too often since.
Indeed, many Forest fans of a certain vintage were insisting that this was the club’s biggest game for generations.
There has been much debate in these parts over what is more important – Premier League survival or European progress – but the joyous scenes at the end were a stirring reminder of days gone by.
These sort of nights may never be experienced again by many of Forest’s players and this was an opportunity to grasp.
Fans have certainly embraced the competition, trekking around Europe and filling town squares with seas of red and white.
Porto’s supporters, however, must dread trips to England after such a poor run of results. Here was another frustrating experience and their team was down to 10 men after eight minutes.
Bednarek’s challenge on Wood was poor, catching the forward high on the knee, but initially went without punishment.
Referee Danny Makkalelie was advised to review the incident on his monitor and when that happens there is usually an inevitability to what follows.
After a short delay, Bednarek was dismissed with a straight red card, with Wood requiring treatment and in clear discomfort from the challenge. Wood has only recently returned after knee surgery and could not continue, leaving the field after 16 minutes.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026Jan Bednarek sees red after a challenge on Chris Wood inside the first 10 minutes of the quarter-final ❌
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Four minutes before Wood’s departure, Forest had taken the lead when Gibbs-White advanced towards the penalty area with his shot taking a big deflection off Pablo Rosario to beat Diogo Costa.
Porto were clearly disrupted by their numerical disadvantage and Francesco Farioli, their manager, made four changes at the break in a bid to gather some momentum.
Costa saved from Igor Jesus but Porto almost stunned the City Ground into silence 11 minutes into the second half.
Seko Fofana’s deep cross floated to the back post and William Gomes struck the underside of the crossbar with an angled volley from three yards out. Gomes had scored in the first leg and could scarcely believe he had missed.
Forest were nervous and required the calm presence of £30m midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré.
The Ivory Coast international was crucial in slowing the game down and bringing a degree of control to his team.
Forest could have relieved the tension when Jesus was again presented with another glimpse of goal but he was denied by Costa.
Porto substitute Adam Varela hit the bar again six minutes from the end but Gibbs-White’s goal proved enough to secure a second win over the Portuguese side in the Europa League this season.
Sean Dyche was manager in that game back in October but quite a lot has happened since then. Forest’s European excursions continue.
Vitor Pereira speaking to TNT Sports
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“I have a fantastic team. It is not about the manager. It is about the team because they have the true spirit and the character. They deserve it, as do the supporters. The faces on the other bench are faces that I recognise. It is normal they have fire at the end. We need to suffer together and we need to feel proud of ourselves and the supporters.”
On injuries:
“I think [Callum] Hudson-Odoi was a muscular injury. But we do not know [on everyone].
On Burnley game at the weekend:
“We start preparing in the dressing room now. After the game we discuss. We have a few minutes to celebrate but then it is time to recover. We prefer to go in with a win because the motivation is different. We need to fight and get the three points.”
Nottingham Forest’s next five games
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April 19: Nottingham Forest vs Burnley (Premier League)
April 24: Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
April 30: Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa (Europa League)
May 4: Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
May 7: Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest (Europa League)
Attention for Vitor Pereira’s side will now turn to the league game against Burnley on Sunday. Forest are three points above the relegation zone.
Forest players thinking of their teammate
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Elliot Anderson missed out on tonight’s game after the death of his mother.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026More than just a win ❤️
Nottingham Forest players pay tribute to Elliot Anderson after reaching the semi-finals following the passing of his mother 👏 pic.twitter.com/9kwIiflko0
Semi-finals
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Thursday April 30:
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Braga vs Freiburg
Thursday May 7:
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
Freiburg vs Braga
Tonight’s Europa League quarter-finals
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Celta Vigo 1 Freiburg 3 (1-6)
Aston Villa 4 Bologna 0 (7-1)
Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
Real Betis 2 Braga 4 (3-5)
FT stats
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Possession: Nottingham Forest 61%-39% Porto
Shots: 20-10
Shots on target: 5-1
Corners: 8-1
Touches in opposition box: 43-13
Full time
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There is the final whistle and Forest book their place in the Europa League semi-finals. Gibbs-White’s deflected goal in the first half earns them a first European semi-final in over 40 years and they will take on Aston Villa in the final four.
90+5 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Jesus’ deflected strike from just outside the box hits the top of the bar. Forest have a corner and the ball is at the right end of the pitch for the home side as the seconds tick by.
90+4 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Varela takes but Aina heads away at the front post.
90+3 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Kiwior’s shot takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner. Porto keeper Costa goes up for the corner right in front of their travelling fans...
90+2 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Time is running out for Porto to find an equaliser as Forest inch towards the semi-finals.
90 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Forest will have to survive just five more minutes to book their place in the semi-finals. Play is halted as Thiago Silva has landed awkwardly so we will end up playing more than five added minutes.
86 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Forest are inching towards the finish line but are not doing so in convincing fashion. They have a man advantage but it does not look like it.
84 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Porto hit the bar for the second time in this half! Gibbs-White gives away possession deep inside his own half and Varela shoots from just outside the box, with shot coming back off the bar.
Down the other end Dominguez drags an effort from range just wide.
83 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Bakwa wastes a corner for Forest out on the right as his delivery does not even beat the front man. The tension from the stands is filtering onto the pitch.
80 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Fofana drives a shot with plenty of power towards goal from the left side of the box but it misses the target. He then encourages the travelling Porto fans behind that goal to make even more noise and they respond. The Porto fans have made their voices heard tonight.
79 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Porto have been down to 10 men for so long in this game but are still in it with just over 10 minutes of normal time left. You can sense the growing tension inside the City Ground.
75 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Chance for Forest. Bakwa plays it into the path of Jesus, who gets his shot away from the left side of the box but is denied by a good save from Costa.
74 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Plenty of nails being chewed around the City Ground as the home fans are praying that the next 20 minutes go by in a flash. Forest can see the semi-finals but know there is still plenty of work to do tonight, with Porto still in this game.
72 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Forest have no real choice but to take both Murillo and Hudson-Odoi off at the same time with only one substitution slot yet. They had the ball but did not kick off for some strange reason. Eventually Forest win it back and Williams sensibly kicks it out of play so they can make the changes. Morato is coming on as is Bakwa. Hudson-Odoi has his head in his shirt as he comes off, having only come on at half-time. Those will be of concern to Forest in addition to the injury to Wood in the first half ahead of an important game against Burnley in the league on Sunday as well as the rest of this game.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026Big blows for Forest 👀
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Murillo are both forced off with injuries.
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69 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Nervy stuff here at the City Ground but Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is oozing class.
The £30m signing is slowing the game down and keeping Forest in control, at a time when anxiety is starting to creep in.
68 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Finally Murillo has gone down and his night appears to be over. Why did he not come off when Milenkovic came on? Hudson-Odoi also has a problem with his right thigh. Forest have two changes left but just the one slot remaining so if Murillo comes off, Hudson-Odoi will then have to stay on or else Forest would be down to 10.
67 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Milenkovic came on for Ndoye and it was surprising that it was not Murillo who came off as the Brazilian has been limping around for a little while and does not look particularly comfortable. Hudson-Odoi is also limping.
66 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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The corner ends up with Hudson-Odoi having a first-time shot from outside the box but he cannot keep it down.
65 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Williams has another shot in this second half blocked by Thiago Silva but this time it goes behind for a Forest corner.
Before that is taken, Forest make their third change of the night as defender Milenkovic replaces wide forward Ndoye. Does that suggest Forest are now shifting to a back three?
Porto make their final change of the night as Gul comes on for Moffi.
57 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Porto hit the bar and that is a huge warning sign for Forest. The cross is sent in by Fofana from the left side of the box and he picks out Gomes at the far post. Gomes hits it first time on the volley and he strikes the bar!
56 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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The travelling Porto fans are making plenty of noise tonight and the home fans respond, willing their side on.
53 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Vitor Pereira will be desperate for this second half not to become nervy for his side. Forest lead and have the one-man advantage but their lead is just by the one goal. The longer Porto stay in this one the more tense it will become for the home side. Porto have looked a bit better since the break, with all those changes being made at half-time.
50 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Chance for Forest. Aina is played into space on the right side of the box and cuts it back to Jesus, whose first-time shot is straight at Costa. Jesus has spurned a couple of good opportunities tonight.
49 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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The ball comes to Williams on the edge of the Porto box. He dukes a few Porto defenders by faking the first-time shot before shifting it onto his left but his effort is blocked well by Thiago Silva.
47 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Gomes, the man to win the free-kick, takes but it hits his teammate Moffi.
46 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Seconds into this second half, Porto win a free-kick inches outside the Forest penalty area after a foul from Dominguez on Gomes. Not much contact but the free-kick is given in a dangerous position. Quite the huddle before the free-kick is taken.
Second half
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We are back under way at the City Ground. Forest are 45 minutes away from the Europa League semi-finals, but their advantage stands at just the one goal.
There are plenty of changes at the break. Just the one from Forest as Hudson-Odoi is on for Hutchinson, who was on a yellow card. Whereas Porto have made a quadruple substitution! Varela, Moura, Kiwior and Froholdt all on for the visitors as Franceso Farioli rings the changes.
Former Forest midfielder Andy Reid on TNT Sports
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He described the Jan Bednarek challenge on Chris Wood as “definitely a red card”. He added that “the only surprise is how long it took to give a red card”.
Tonight’s Europa League quarter-finals
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Celta Vigo 1 Freiburg 3 (1-6) FT
Aston Villa 3 Bologna 0 (6-1) HT
Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1) HT
Real Betis 2 Braga 1 (3-2) HT
HT stats
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Possession: Nottingham Forest 67%-33% Porto
Shots: 9-3
Shots on target: 3-1
Corners: 4-0
Touches in opposition box: 22-4
Half-time
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Porto have a late chance just before the break as Veiga is fouled by Ndoye inside the Forest half. Veiga hits it in with pace and it is flicked on at the near post by A Costa but it goes wide of the far post.
That is the final act of the half as Forest lead 1-0 at the break thanks to Gibbs-White’s deflected strike. Porto were down to 10 men for a lot of that half after Bednarek’s red card and still have plenty of time to negotiate being down a man.
45+1 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Ndoye clips in a dangerous cross from the left and Dominguez has a free header from around six yards out but the contact on the header is not great, more of a glancing contact, and the ball ends up going wide of the far post. Should Dominguez be hitting the target there? Probably.
45 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Due to that lengthy VAR review for the Bednarek red card, there will be five added minutes at the end of this first half.
44 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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There is just a touch of frustration from the home fans that their side have not been more ruthless in the final third. With the one-man advantage, Forest could potentially have killed off this tie in this first half but have lacked a cutting edge.
It kicks off on the sidelines as the Porto bench are not happy with Aina for a foul on Sainz and then a push on Veiga but there was not too much in any of that.
42 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Forest are creating chances but not really testing Diogo Costa - and there is always that saying about 2-1 being an awkward scoreline.
Porto have clearly been disrupted by their numerical disadvantage. Forest will be kicking themselves if they mess this one up.
40 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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The first Forest player into the book tonight is Hutchinson, who cynically brings Zaidu down. The referee is consistent after his earlier yellow card to Moffi.
39 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Forest are in control, one goal ahead and a man up, but their lead tonight and in the tie is just one and will not want this to game to become nervy towards the end, with Porto still hanging on.
37 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Murillo is inches away from doubling Forest’s advantage. Cunha lays it back to Murillo on the edge of the box and the former hits it first time but his effort goes just wide.
36 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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A Costa is into the book for a foul on Williams, who just got to the ball ahead of A Costa, who swung hard and ended up catching Williams. It is a touch unfortunate for A Costa, who was making a genuine attempt to go for the ball.
34 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Williams’ corner from the left comes all the way to the back post and Jesus has a free header but it goes over the bar. The Brazilian should be doing better with that opportunity.
32 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Ndoye drives into the Porto half and is brought down by Moffi, who is shown a yellow card. How things may have been different had Moffi given Porto the lead inside the opening two minutes?
30 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Williams floats a ball from the left all the way to the back post, where he picks out Jesus, but the Brazilian’s header is straight at Costa.
Chris Wood was clearly uncomfortable when he came off but the good news is that the injury was to his other knee, not the one that recently had surgery.
Wood has missed most of the season with the injury and is sitting with his team-mates in the Forest dug-out.
28 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Forest are creating plenty of chances going forward but need to more clinical. Their latest opportunity falls to Hutchinson inside the Porto box after Rosario is sloppy inside his own box but Hutchinson’s first-time shot hits the side netting.
25 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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The TV cameras have panned to Wood in the Forest dugout and he has some ice on his right knee. How severe will that injury be?
24 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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It is a good night all around for the English clubs right now. Aston Villa currently lead Bologna 4-1 on aggregate, which would set up an all-English tie against Forest in the semi-finals of the Europa League. Meanwhile Crystal Palace lead Fiorentina 4-0 on aggregate in the Conference League.
22 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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That is one of the worst free-kicks you will see. Forest have the set-piece just over 25 yards out from the Porto goal and centre-back Murillo steps up to take. His effort though goes a long way wide and ends up with the travelling Porto fans in the stands.
21 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Another opportunity opens up for Forest as Aina plays it forward to Gibbs-White who, as he enters the Porto box, tries to lay it across to Jesus but the pass is intercepted. Could Gibbs-White have been more selfish and taken a shot himself?
19 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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It is all Forest and they can smell more goals. Hutchinson fizzes a cross from the right side of the penalty area, looking for Ndoye at the back post, but the latter cannot quite get on the end of it.
16 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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Wood has had an injury-ravaged season and looks set to spend more time now on the sidelines. He is replaced by Jesus, who scored a penalty when these sides met here during the league phase.
15 mins: Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (2-1)
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It is all Forest right now. Ndoye lays it back to Dominguez, who takes a touch on the edge of the box but drags his effort wide.
This is concerning for the home side as Wood has gone down again and he is not going to be able to continue following that red-card challenge from Bednarek. You can see the damage to the inside of his right knee.
GOAL! Gibbs-White puts Forest ahead on the night and the tie
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The hosts take advantage of their one-man advantage and hit the front, not just tonight but also in the tie. Gibbs-White has the space to drive towards the Porto penalty area and gets his shot away from just outside the box. It takes a big deflection off Rosario, which wrong-foots Costa in the Porto goal, and ends up in the back of the net. Gibbs-White holds up teammate Elliot Anderson’s shirt in light of Anderson’s mother death.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026Morgan Gibbs-White fires his 12th goal of the season to give Nottingham Forest the lead ⚽️
📺 Stream with TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/PhdlxIFlnC
11 mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Porto 0 (1-1)
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Porto are down to ten men and that was a poor, poor challenge from Jan Bednarek on Chris Wood.
Forest’s striker has only just returned from a long-term knee injury and that was a shocker from the Porto defender.
Bednarek was sent off after a Var review and the challenge gets worse every time you see it.
Big advantage now for Forest.
10 mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Porto 0 (1-1)
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Francesco Farioli has not made a substitution in light of Bednarek’s red card, instead moving Rosario back from midfield into centre-back.
Gibbs-White drives into the Porto box and looks to find Wood but it is just slightly too far in front of Wood, who has now recovered.
RED CARD! Porto down to 10 men
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The former Southampton defender Bednarek is given his marching orders. It was an attempt to get the ball but he catches Wood high on the knee and he is shown a straight red. This is massive as Porto are now going to have to play for most of this game with only 10 men. The Forest fans know this is big in their quest to make the semi-finals. Bednarek cannot understand that decision.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026Jan Bednarek sees red after a challenge on Chris Wood inside the first 10 minutes of the quarter-final ❌
📺 Stream with TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/DAewPpipCt
6 mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Porto 0 (1-1)
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This is a concern for Forest. Wood goes down clutching his right knee after a foul by former Southampton defender Bednarek. It was a genuine attempt by Bednarek to go for the ball with Wood but his high boot catches Wood’s knee. VAR is taking a look at the incident and this culd be a red card for Bednarek. When you watch it slowed down, it does not look good from Bednarek. This could be an absolutely massive moment in this second leg as Porto could be faced with playing most of this game down to 10 men.
The referee is being sent to the monitor...
2 mins: Nottingham Forest 0 Porto 0 (1-1 agg)
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Vitor Pereira was born in and around the city of Porto and led the club to two league titles in the last decade so it would be special for him to lead his current employers past his former ones.
Porto should really be in front just over a minute into this game. Moffi is played through inside the Forest box and has a one-on-one chance. He tries to chip it over Ortega but gets it all wrong, getting a lot of the ground before making contact with the ball, and Ortega makes the save before Gomes blazes over. An early warning sign for Forest.
Kick-off
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As is customary at the City Ground, Mull of Kintyre is belted out by the home fans as the game gets going. Mull of Kintyre was the best-selling single of the 1970s.
Nearly ready for action
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Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at the City Ground. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up tonight:
Nottingham Forest: Ortega, Cunha, Murillo, Williams; Aina, Gibbs-White, Sangare, Dominguez, Ndoye; Hutchinson; Wood.
Substitutes: Sels, Willows, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus, Lucca, Yates, McAtee, Bakwa, Milenkovic, Abbott, Sinclair.
Porto: Costa, Costa, Silva, Bednarek, Zaidu; Fofana, Rosario, Veiga; Gomes, Moffi, Sainz.
Substitutes: Ramos, Costa, Kiwior, Froholdt, Pepe, Prpic, Varela, Gui, Silva, Bras, Moura, Mora.
Pre-match thoughts of Vitor Pereira
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“It is one chance. We have to do everything to show our ambition in this competition, and to show our quality to be in the next round. I need to do it [rotate the squad] because in three days we play again in the Premier League. They [Porto] will play with intensity and so we have to play better than we did last week.”
Porto’s last five results
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Estoril Praia 1 Porto 3 (Liga Portugal)
Porto 1 Nottingham Forest 1 (Europa League)
Porto 2 Famalicao 2 (Liga Portugal)
Braga 1 Porto 2 (Liga Portugal)
Porto 2 Stuttgart 0 (Europa League)
Porto are juggling going deep in the Europa League whilst trying to see out the job in the Portuguese top flight. Their lead at the top of the Liga Portugal is five points ahead of Sporting, having played a game more. They have in fact lost just once in their league so far this season.
Brazilian defender back on these shores
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Thiago Silva is still going strong at the age of 41 and will be crucial for Porto tonight.
The former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and AC Milan defender is ageing like a fine red rioja and remains such a classy performer.
If there’s any chaos tonight, he will be the ballerina in the mosh pit.
Nottingham Forest’s last five results
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Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 1 (Premier League)
Porto 1 Nottingham Forest 1 (Europa League)
Tottenham 0 Nottingham Forest 3 (Premier League)
Midtjylland 1 Nottingham Forest 2 (Europa League)
Nottingham Forest 0 Fulham 0 (Premier League)
Forest are still fighting on two fronts as they scrap to stay in the Premier League at the same time as trying to go deep in the Europa League.
How things change
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It feels a long time ago but Forest have already beaten Porto in the Europa League this season.
Sean Dyche was manager for his first game in charge and it was a comfortable 2-0 home victory back in October.
Quite a lot has happened since then.
Highlights from last week
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Nottingham Forest earned a decent 1-1 draw over in Portugal last week, which included a rather strange own goal from the hosts:
“Premier League survival or European progress?”
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Many Forest fans of a certain vintage will insist this is the club’s biggest game in generations. It is their first European quarter-final at the City Ground since a 5-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in 1996, with a full English encounter with Aston Villa lying in wait if they can find a way past Porto.
There has been much debate in these parts over what is more important - Premier League survival or European progress? Forest face Burnley on Sunday at home and victory there will inch them ever closer towards safety.
This feels like a big night, though, and Forest should grasp the opportunity.
Teams in full
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Nottingham Forest: Ortega, Cunha, Murillo, Williams; Aina, Gibbs-White, Sangare, Dominguez, Ndoye; Hutchinson; Wood.
Substitutes: Sels, Willows, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus, Lucca, Yates, McAtee, Bakwa, Milenkovic, Abbott, Sinclair.
Porto: Costa, Costa, Silva, Bednarek, Zaidu; Fofana, Rosario, Veiga; Gomes, Moffi, Sainz.
Substitutes: Ramos, Costa, Kiwior, Froholdt, Pepe, Prpic, Varela, Gui, Silva, Bras, Moura, Mora.
Vitor Pereira speaking to TNT Sports
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2026"Now is not the time in my career to think about myself..."
Nottingham Forest manager Vítor Pereira says he's just focusing on getting the club results right now 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ylxOvbb6WZ
Tonight’s Europa League quarter-finals
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Celta Vigo 0 Freiburg 2 (0-5): game ongoing in the second half
Aston Villa vs Bologna (3-1)
Nottingham Forest vs Porto (1-1)
Real Betis vs Braga (1-1)
If Forest were to beat Porto tonight, they could face Aston Villa in the semi-finals, if Unai Emery’s men get past Bologna.
Anderson absent
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— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 16, 2026Elliot Anderson is unavailable for tonight's fixture following the passing of his beloved mother, Helen.
Everyone at Nottingham Forest Football Club extends its deepest condolences to Elliot and his family following this extremely sad news.
Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies… pic.twitter.com/0FBB5lrPeC
Who will make the final four?
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A place in the Europa League semi-finals is at stake at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest host Porto in the second leg of the quarter-finals, with the tie all square at 1-1 after the first leg. William Gomes had given Porto the lead just over 10 minutes into the first leg in Portugal last week before a rather stunning moment gifted Forest an equaliser. Porto defender Martim Fernandes accidentally passed it into his own net from over 40 yards out with his keeper Diogo Gomes stranded. These sides also met during the league phase back in October, with Forest claiming a 2-0 win at the City Ground thanks to goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus, both from the penalty spot.
Forest, who are aiming to reach their first European semi-final in over 40 years, Forest drew 1-1 at home against Aston Villa in the league on Sunday in between the two legs, which puts them three points above the relegation zone. Vitor Pereira comes up against the side he led to two league titles in the early 2010s.
“My team are working very well, and it is a very good group,” Pereira said. “We need some time to get things the way I want them, but that is not an excuse. It is time to compete, I am hungry to compete every day and that is the message. On the field we need to show what we are worth. Porto play intensely, at a fast pace, pressing high. From a physical point of view, they win many duels, many second balls. We have to be ourselves and play with our tools; we have the support of our fans and good energy. I am absolutely certain that all aspects will be there, tactical, physical, mental, with two excellent teams.”
Nicolo Savona, Willy Boly and John Victor remain out injured for the hosts.
Porto won 3-1 away at Estoril in Liga Portugal on Sunday, which gives them a five-point lead at the summit of the Portuguese top flight. The visitors are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions.
“We came here with a desire to write an important page in the history of FC Porto; with a clear intention, with a clear spirit to make our supporters happy,” Porto boss Francesco Farioli said ahead of the game. “If we can [we will] change a bit the dynamic between, let’s say, the past of Porto with English teams but the priority for us is to play a big game, a great performance.”
The winner of this tie will play either Aston Villa or Bologna in the semi-finals. Team news to follow shortly.