Europa League Draw: Nottingham Forest Advances to Quarter-Finals

Nottingham Forest has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Midtjylland on March 19, 2026. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Forest, leveling the tie at 2-2 on aggregate.

In a tense shoot-out, Midtjylland missed all three of their penalties, while Nottingham Forest successfully converted three attempts. Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangaré, and Neco Williams were the players who secured the win for Forest.

Ryan Yates also made headlines during the match, scoring a stunning goal from 25 yards out. This victory marks a significant moment for Nottingham Forest, whose last European campaign was in the 1995-96 season when they reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

Midtjylland’s Cho Gue-sung and Aral Simsir both struck the post during the penalty shoot-out, contributing to their elimination from the tournament. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Danish side, who had hoped to advance further.

Nottingham Forest will now face Porto in the quarter-finals, with the first legs scheduled for April 9 and the second legs on April 16. This matchup is highly anticipated, as Forest aims to make a deeper run in the competition.

Vítor Pereira, the manager of Porto, expressed his thoughts on the match, stating, “It’s important, the energy and spirit is different when we win.” His team will need to bring that energy into the upcoming clash against Forest.

Ryan Yates reflected on the victory, saying, “The journey’s not over yet – we’re still dreaming.” His sentiments capture the excitement surrounding Nottingham Forest’s return to European football.

With £140 million spent on four players, including a £31 million permanent option for Lorenzo Lucca, Nottingham Forest has invested heavily in their squad, aiming for success on the European stage.

As the quarter-finals approach, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Nottingham Forest performs against Porto. The stakes are high, and the anticipation is palpable.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further developments in the tournament, but the excitement surrounding the Europa League draw continues to grow.