Forest Hold On as Fenerbahçe Fight Back: Europa League Thriller at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest reached the Europa League last 16 after a nervy second leg at the City Ground on 26 February 2026, losing 2-1 to Fenerbahçe on the night but advancing 4-2 on aggregate following a 3-0 win in Istanbul the previous week. Kerem Aktürkoglu’s brace, including a penalty early in the second half, threatened a dramatic turnaround, but a composed finish from substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi restored Forest’s cushion and sealed their progress.

Match at a glance

Key facts

• Goal scorers, second leg: Kerem Aktürkoglu (22'), Kerem Aktürkoglu, penalty (48'), Callum Hudson-Odoi (68').
• Attendance, City Ground: around 26,800 spectators.
• The tie was a two-legged knockout playoff in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League, with the round of 16 draw scheduled the day after the second leg.

Timeline and moments that mattered

• 22' — Aktürkoglu gives Fenerbahçe the early lead at the City Ground with a smart finish following a rapid counterattack, changing the tenor of a tie that had seemed settled after the first leg.
• 46' — Controversy immediately after the break, with a penalty awarded to Fenerbahçe and converted by Aktürkoglu, suddenly making the tie competitive and forcing Forest to make multiple substitutions.
• 68' — Callum Hudson-Odoi, brought on in the second half, scores to calm the crowd and restore the two-goal aggregate advantage.
• There was a short stoppage early in the match when flares were thrown from the away end onto the pitch, briefly pausing the game, an incident that underlined the emotional intensity.

"It was a thriller, with suspense. We had to suffer," said Nottingham Forest’s head coach after the match, reflecting on a night when rotation left his side momentarily vulnerable.

Tactical shifts and substitutions

Nottingham Forest approached the night with rotation in mind, having built a healthy three-goal cushion in Istanbul, but the changes left the team disjointed at times, especially in central defence. At half time the manager made multiple substitutions to shore up balance and freshen attacking options, a decision that ultimately paid off when Hudson-Odoi came on and scored.

Fenerbahçe, chasing an improbable comeback, played with urgency and width, exploiting turnover moments to create transitions. The penalty early in the second half came from an aggressive Fener counter and thereafter they committed more players forward, which left them vulnerable to counter-attacks.

Substitutions that shifted the tie

• Nottingham Forest introduced several key players at halftime and in the second half, including Hudson-Odoi and Ola Aina, who combined for the goal. The exchange changed the attacking dynamic in Forest’s favour.
• Fenerbahçe’s urgency was visible in their personnel choices, but crucial absences through injury and suspension reduced their defensive options and tactical flexibility.

Player performances and individual notes

• Callum Hudson-Odoi, substitute, made the decisive impact with a composed finish that settled Forest’s nerves.
• Kerem Aktürkoglu carried the threat for Fenerbahçe, scoring both goals and creating hope of a comeback.
• Forest’s goalkeeper kept his composure during several nervy moments, and defensive errors early on were corrected through substitutions.

Atmosphere, incidents and VAR

The match was charged from the opening seconds after flares were thrown onto the pitch from the away end, prompting a brief stoppage while stewards cleared the area. VAR was involved in the review of the penalty decision, which was ultimately upheld. Those incidents added to the tension of a tie that had swung from comfortable margin to tense fightback in the space of a few minutes.

Managers and reactions

Nottingham Forest’s manager acknowledged the risk of rotating a side holding a big advantage, while also praising the players for regaining control after the scare. From Fenerbahçe, the coach accepted the effort shown by his team in the second leg but cited the first-leg deficit as decisive, saying his side had underperformed at home and paid the price.

Multiple viewpoints are clear: Forest will claim efficiency and depth, and argue that smart rotation helped preserve players for a congested fixture list, while critics will point to the risk of too much change in knockout ties. Fenerbahçe can take heart from an impressive, spirited response away from home, but must face the reality that the first-leg collapse in Istanbul left an insurmountable gap.

What this means next

• Nottingham Forest advance to the Europa League last 16 where they will face the winner of the tie between Real Betis and FC Midtjylland, once that fixture is resolved in the competition draw.
• For Fenerbahçe, the tie ends with lessons on squad management and finishing, and the club will turn attention back to domestic competitions and the January window to address injury and suspension concerns.

Quick tactical takeaways

• A three-goal cushion from the first leg reduced Forest’s margin for error, but rotation nearly proved costly.
• Fenerbahçe’s transition play and Aktürkoglu’s finishing were the match highlights, showing the team’s ability to produce moments of quality even when behind on aggregate.
• The timing and success of Forest’s substitutions underline the importance of experienced, impact players on the bench in European knockout football.

Key stats (selected)

```json
{
"tie": "Europa League knockout play-off",
"first_leg": {"date":"2026-02-19","score":"Fenerbahçe 0-3 Nottingham Forest"},
"second_leg": {"date":"2026-02-26","score":"Nottingham Forest 1-2 Fenerbahçe"},
"aggregate":"Nottingham Forest 4-2 Fenerbahçe"
}
```

Final perspective and verdict

Nottingham Forest did what they needed across two legs, combining an authoritative away performance with enough resilience at home to absorb pressure when it came. The tie will be remembered for its late drama, the fervour of supporters, and a reminder that in European competition no advantage is totally safe. For Fenerbahçe, the second leg offered hope and evidence of character, but also highlighted the gulf created by their poor first-leg showing in Istanbul.

Takeaway bullets

• Forest progress, 4-2 on aggregate, into the Europa League last 16.
• Hudson-Odoi’s introduction proved decisive, underlining the value of experienced impact substitutes.
• Fenerbahçe showed fight, but a 3-0 first-leg deficit was too big to overturn.

If you want a focused tactical diagram of either side’s formation, or a minute-by-minute event list exported as a CSV, I can prepare that next.