“Nikola Milenković forced off through injury in early blow to Forest's defensive plans”
“Gue-sung Cho rises magnificently to head home Ousmane Diao's cross and give Midtjylland precious first-leg advantage”
Pivotal
Nottingham Forest
FC Midtjylland
Outstanding performance
FC Midtjylland•GoalkeeperFC Midtjylland secured a crucial first-leg advantage at the City Ground through Gue-sung Cho's towering 80th-minute header. The Danish side frustrated Forest for large periods, absorbing pressure before capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Cho, introduced just after the hour mark, proved to be the decisive substitution as he powered home Ousmane Diao's precise cross from close range. Forest's early injury to Milenković disrupted their rhythm, forcing tactical adjustments that never quite clicked. The narrow defeat leaves Forest with everything to play for in the second leg, but they'll need to be more clinical in front of goal to overturn this deficit in Denmark.
How entertaining was this match?
Missed opportunity! Murillo from Nottingham Forest attempts a header from the right side of the six-yard box, but it goes over the bar and to the right. The assist came from Omari Hutchinson, who delivered a cross following a corner kick.
Corner awarded to Nottingham Forest after Ousmane Diao allowed the ball to go out.
Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest had a shot with his right foot from the left side of the penalty area, but it was blocked. The assist came from Dilane Bakwa.
Substitution for Nottingham Forest: Dilane Bakwa replaces Ola Aina.
assist: Ousmane Diao
Goal! FC Midtjylland takes the lead against Nottingham Forest, making it 1-0. Cho Gue-Sung scores with a header from the center of the box, directing the ball into the right corner of the net. The assist comes from Ousmane Diao, who delivered a precise cross.
Philip Billing of FC Midtjylland was awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Murillo commits a foul against Nottingham Forest.
Corner awarded to Nottingham Forest after Ousmane Diao allowed the ball to go out of play.
Ibrahim Sangaré from Nottingham Forest was awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Mikael Uhre from FC Midtjylland committed a foul.
The attempt is thwarted. Mikael Uhre from FC Midtjylland fires a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it's successfully blocked.
Mikael Uhre from FC Midtjylland committed a foul.
Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Corner awarded to FC Midtjylland after Nikola Milenkovic allowed the ball to go out.
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Match is currently on hold - FC Midtjylland.
Substitution for Nottingham Forest: Lorenzo Lucca is coming on to replace Igor Jesus.
Substitution for Nottingham Forest: Ibrahim Sangaré replaces Nicolás Domínguez.
A fresh offensive play unfolds as Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest takes a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, but the attempt is successfully stopped.
A fresh offensive effort unfolds as Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest heads the ball from the middle of the penalty area, but Elías Ólafsson, the goalkeeper for FC Midtjylland, makes a crucial save right in the center of the goal.
A shot has been deflected. Omari Hutchinson from Nottingham Forest attempted a left-footed strike from the right side of the penalty area, but it was blocked. The assist came from Elliot Anderson.
Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Philip Billing committed a foul on the field - FC Midtjylland.
The attempt is thwarted. Victor Bak Jensen from FC Midtjylland fires a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, but it gets blocked. The assist came from Pedro Bravo.
Substitution for FC Midtjylland: Lee Han-Beom comes on to replace Kevin Mbabu, who is leaving the field due to an injury.
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Match interruption due to an injury to Kevin Mbabu from FC Midtjylland.
The attempt is thwarted. Omari Hutchinson from Nottingham Forest takes a left-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area, but it's blocked. The assist came from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Substitution for FC Midtjylland: Mikael Uhre is coming off, and Aral Simsir is taking his place.
Substitution for FC Midtjylland: Cho Gue-Sung comes on to replace Júnior Brumado.
Valdemar Byskov from FC Midtjylland strikes the crossbar with a right-footed shot taken from outside the penalty area. The attempt was set up by Ousmane Diao following a corner kick.
Corner awarded to FC Midtjylland after Matz Sels allowed the ball to go out.
A fresh offensive effort unfolds as Valdemar Byskov from FC Midtjylland takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest makes a save, diving to his left to stop the ball.
Missed opportunity! Callum Hudson-Odoi from Nottingham Forest took a long-range shot with his right foot from the left side, but it narrowly went wide to the left. Nicolás Domínguez provided the assist.
Offside call against FC Midtjylland. Júnior Brumado has been caught offside.
Offside call against Nottingham Forest. Elliot Anderson has been caught offside.
Opportunity squandered. Nicolás Domínguez from Nottingham Forest attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide. The assist came from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Opportunity squandered. Nicolás Domínguez from Nottingham Forest attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.
The attempt is thwarted. Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest takes a left-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area, but it's blocked.
Substitution for Nottingham Forest: Neco Williams comes on to replace Morato.
Substitution for FC Midtjylland: Valdemar Byskov comes on to replace Denil Castillo.
The second half is underway with the score still tied at Nottingham Forest 0, FC Midtjylland 0.
The first half has concluded with the score tied at Nottingham Forest 0, FC Midtjylland 0.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 2 minutes of stoppage time.
Corner awarded to Nottingham Forest after Martin Erlic allowed the ball to go out.
The attempt is thwarted. Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest takes a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area, but it gets blocked.
Nicolás Domínguez from Nottingham Forest has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Júnior Brumado from FC Midtjylland committed a foul.
Kevin Mbabu from FC Midtjylland earned a free kick on the right side of the field.
Callum Hudson-Odoi committed a foul against Nottingham Forest.
Missed opportunity! Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest took a right-footed shot from the middle of the box but failed to find the target. The assist came from Igor Jesus, who headed the ball after a corner kick.
The attempt is thwarted. Igor Jesus of Nottingham Forest heads the ball from the center of the penalty area, but his shot is blocked. The cross was delivered by Omari Hutchinson.
Corner awarded to Nottingham Forest after Elías Ólafsson allowed the ball to go out.
A fresh offensive play unfolds. Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but Elías Ólafsson of FC Midtjylland makes a great save, reaching to the top left corner. The assist came from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Elliot Anderson committed a foul against Nottingham Forest.
Elliot Anderson committed a foul on a Nottingham Forest player.
Denil Castillo from FC Midtjylland has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Offside call against Nottingham Forest. Omari Hutchinson has been caught offside.
Opportunity squandered. Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest attempted a left-footed shot from within the six-yard box, but it went wide to the left.
A fresh offensive effort unfolds as Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area. The attempt is expertly saved in the left corner by Elías Ólafsson of FC Midtjylland, with the assist coming from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Morgan Gibbs-White commits a handball for Nottingham Forest.
MoratoYellow CardMorato from Nottingham Forest has been shown a yellow card for committing a foul.
Morato commits a foul on a Nottingham Forest player.
Denil Castillo from FC Midtjylland earned a free kick on the right side of the field.
Missed opportunity! Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide. The assist came from Nicolás Domínguez.
Corner awarded to Nottingham Forest after Martin Erlic allowed the ball to go out.
Omari Hutchinson from Nottingham Forest earned a free kick in an offensive position.
Omari Hutchinson from Nottingham Forest earned a free kick in an offensive position.
Offside call against FC Midtjylland. Júnior Brumado has been flagged for being offside.
The pause has ended. They’re set to resume play now.
Match is currently paused due to an injury to Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Júnior Brumado of FC Midtjylland has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Murillo committed a foul on a Nottingham Forest player.
Corner kick awarded to Nottingham Forest, following a defensive play by Elías Ólafsson.
A fresh offensive effort unfolds as Omari Hutchinson from Nottingham Forest takes a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it's successfully stopped by the goalkeeper.
Offside called against Nottingham Forest. Morgan Gibbs-White is positioned offside.
Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest earned a free kick in the defensive area.
Ousmane Diao from FC Midtjylland committed a foul.
Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
Victor Bak Jensen from FC Midtjylland committed a foul.
Offside call against FC Midtjylland. Denil Castillo has been flagged for being offside.
Nicolás Domínguez commits a handball for Nottingham Forest.
Philip Billing committed a foul against FC Midtjylland.
Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest has been awarded a free kick in an offensive position.
Substitution for Nottingham Forest: Nikola Milenkovic comes on to replace Jair Cunha.
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Match interruption due to an injury to Jair Cunha from Nottingham Forest.
Missed opportunity. Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide to the left.
Missed opportunity. Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide to the left.
Callum Hudson-Odoi from Nottingham Forest earned a free kick on the left flank.
Offside call against FC Midtjylland. Victor Bak Jensen has been caught offside.
Opportunity wasted! Júnior Brumado of FC Midtjylland had a close-range header that went off target. The cross was delivered by Philip Billing.
Nicolás Domínguez from Nottingham Forest committed a foul.
Aral Simsir from FC Midtjylland has been awarded a free kick in an offensive position.
Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest earned a free kick in an offensive position.
Ousmane Diao from FC Midtjylland committed a foul.
The opening half is underway...
Nottingham Forest host FC Midtjylland in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg at The City Ground. The Danish side brings superior form and defensive solidity against Forest's home advantage and attacking threat led by Igor Jesus.
