After Nottingham Forest’s return to Europe for the first time in 30 years, owner Evangelos Marinakis invested £200m on new players to give his club the best possible chance of winning the trophy.
After Nottingham Forest’s return to Europe for the first time in 30 years, owner Evangelos Marinakis invested £200m on new players to give his club the best possible chance of winning the trophy.
Yet Forest appear certain to be facing a play-off shootout to extend this season’s journey as many of those summer arrivals endured nightmarish evenings once again.
Though they are assured of a place in February’s knockout phase, this was a poor evening for Sean Dyche whose unbeaten run in the Europa League has ended.
Elliot Anderson, a substitute, was sent off for dissent in injury time and Forest were booed off by their travelling supporters as hopes of securing a top-eight finish were all but washed away in the Braga rain.
Elliot Anderson is shown a straight red in stoppage time at the end of the second half ❌
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After Morgan Gibbs-White had a penalty saved for the second time in this competition, Forest’s captain Ryan Yates put the ball in his own net 54 seconds later to boost Braga’s own hopes of automatic qualification.
In the blink of an eye Nottingham Forest miss a penalty and Braga take the lead through a Yates own goal ⚽️
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Dyche’s team had the cutting edge of a plastic spatula and the incoming loan signing of Napoli forward Lorenzo Lucca is desperately needed.
Dyche on the performance
Very frustrating. One minute of madness. A game we never looked in trouble. Never dominated as much as we liked.
We are playing, we don’t have a recognised centre-forward and that can make it tricky. The reaction was nowhere good enough for a minute or so. We lost the game to a really poor goal.
I think the tempo of the game, we got sucked into playing slow. Didn’t really affect the backline as many times as we hoped. We got the penalty, and it is one of those games if you seal that.
Ryan Yates strangely positive
Very disappointing. I feel we controlled most parts of the game.
A very good team away from home. I thought we stifled them in the first half. We had opportunities to make a breakthrough, we don’t. Then, I unfortunately make a mistake at the other end. Then we could never get a foothold in the game after that.
When you get handed an opportunity and you don’t take it, you get punished. I have to hold my hands up. I should have done better.
We are frustrated as I think we have done enough to win the game. Frustrating when results don’t go your way. We have missed an opportunity and that’s why we’re frustrated - not that we were terrible on the night.
Fine margins. We have to keep working and put that right. We are still in a solid position in the competition. No negativity in the dressing room, that’s for sure.
Three points thrown away
2 - Nottingham Forest have tonight become just the second team in UEFA Europa League history to...
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2026
❌ Lose a match without facing a shot on target.
❓ Miss a penalty, score an own goal and receive a red card in one match.
Puzzling. pic.twitter.com/gYjquTIXIQ
Forest need snookers for a top-eight place
FT: Braga 1 Forest 0
Loud boos from the Forest fans and that is a pretty calamitous night for them in Europe. They now need a home win against Farencvaros and other results to go in their favour if they are to avoid the extra play-off round. It was a sloppy, half-hearted performance and the squad players showed why Dyche has been leaving them on the bench in the Premier League.
96 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
We should get more clarification on that decision after the game, but Forest’s night has just got even worse. Braga have won a corner, and that is surely that.
FOREST RED CARD!
This is a very strange one: Elliott Anderson has been shown a straight red card, for what is seemingly a non-incident. He was not involved in the play, we can only guess that he gave the referee some verbals and has been sent off for dissent.
Elliot Anderson is shown a straight red in stoppage time at the end of the second half ❌
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2026
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92 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Hornicek claims an inswinging Anderson cross, and Braga are four minutes from a victory which would confirm a top-eight finish.
90 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
There will be SIX minutes of added time to play.
90 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Now then, this is big shot for a Forest penalty: Moutinho dives in with Ndoye on his outside in the box, and the referee books the Forest winger for diving. VAR checks it... but finds that Moutinho pulled his legs back in time. No penalty.
88 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Forest are huffing and puffing but they do not really look like breaking Braga down. Williams is trying his best, but Gomez blocks his cross. Can anyone find a moment of magic to save Forest’s bacon?
85 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
A great counter-attacking run from Martinez to drag Braga up the pitch, with Neco Williams booked for dragging him down. Martinez has been Braga’s best outlet, but his race is run as he goes down with cramp.
82 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Moutinho pokes the ball just wide from a corner after Braga played through Forest’s press and away down the left. Dyche is about to making another change: Sangare will come on.
How have Forest not scored there?! An almighty scramble in the Braga box. Ndoye met a back-post cross on the volley, appealed for a handball penalty, had a shot saved, before a Yates header loops over the bar. It was actually a great block from Lagerbielke to deny Yates. No penalty after a VAR check.
80 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
There is more life about Forest now that Neco Williams and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been reunited on the left, but a promising attack ends with Anderson blasting a shot over the bar from 30 yards.
77 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
A Braga attack breaks down, and Anderson picks out a long pass forward for Gibbs-White. The Forest substitute Dominguez helps keep the attack alive, and Gibbs-White shoots through legs but straight at the goalkeeper.
74 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Braga’s defending is rugged and committed now they have a lead to protect. Forest are having a lot of possession around the box, but that is not really a scenario that suits them.
70 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Hudson-Odoi and Anderson trying to lift Forest but Braga are standing firm for now. Forest will be squandering a very presentable opportunity if they slip to a defeat here.
66 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
So close to a second for Braga! Pau Victor thumped a shot against the post with his right foot and Sels was well beaten. Forest’s defending of their penalty area was soft again.
Here come the Forest changes: Williams, Hudson-Odoi and Anderson on for Aina, McAtee and Douglas Luiz.
The Forest fans let Douglas Luiz what they think of his performance.
64 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Boos from the Forest fans at their team’s laboured attempts to build play from the back; a sequence of slow passes along their back four ends in a lump forward out for a throw. Dyche has seen enough, and is preparing changes.
62 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
Bakwa is fouled near the left-touchline, and from a quickly taken free-kick Aina pings a rocket from 40 yards that rattles the crossbar! Great effort from the Forest full-back. Braga making a couple of changes: Pau Victor and Joao Moutinho, formerly of Sporting Lisbon and Wolves, are the players on.
57 minutes: Braga 1 Forest 0
As things stand, Braga will be be assured of a top-eight spot. Ndoye wins the ball in a dangerous area but he dallies and the chance passes.
The Forest work the ball through McAtee to Gibbs-White in the box, but he blasted over the bar with his left foot.
GOOOOALL! Braga lead through Yates own goal
What a dreadful 60 seconds for Forests. Braga go straight up the other end, Milenkovic loses a soft challenge in the penalty area, and a low ball across the six-yard box bounces off the shins of Ryan Yates and into the net.
In the blink of an eye Nottingham Forest miss a penalty and Braga take the lead through a Yates own goal ⚽️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2026
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SAVED!
Gibbs-White tried to pass the ball into the bottom-right corner, but it was not accurate enough and Hornicek got down to keep it out. Gibbs-White had an awful long time to think and it counted against him.
Gibbs White sees his penalty saved by Horníček 🧤
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VAR confirms the penalty
As usual, there was a fairly lengthy VAR check but the on-field decision stands.
Gibbs-White to take.
PENALTY FOREST!
Martinez penalised for dragging down McAtee in the box. It was a lovely inswinging cross from Gibbs-White to create the danger. The referee points to the spot, and it looks like they tangled legs. It may have been inadvertent, but there was contact.
48 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Savona has looked a liability defensively for Forest all night, and after he is beaten all too easily by Martinez, Horta turns a shot just over the bar with the outside of his right foot.
We’re back under way
Can Forest move through the gears in the second half?
No changes from Dyche at the break
He has sent the same Forest team back out there.
Braga are making a change though: Vitork Carvalho on for Niakate, who was walking a tightrope at centre-back on a yellow card.
HT: Braga 0 Forest 0
Some boos from the Forest fans after an utterly listless first half from both teams. Dyche’s team need to push for the win which would put their top-eight fate in their hands going into next week’s final game at home to Ferencvaros.
44 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
James McAtee goes down looking for a free-kick 25 yards from goal but the referee tells him to get up. The former Man City player and a star for England at last summer’s U21s Euros has been quiet tonight.
42 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Braga are probably finishing the half as the better side now, Forest have become increasingly passive and are dropping behind the ball. I’m sure Dyche will want his team to play with more impetus in the second half.
37 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
A scare for Forest and at last we have some goal-mouth action: Savona switched off at the back post and Martinez dashed in front of the defender, but glanced his header wide of the post.
34 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Forest’s free-kick comes to nothing, and this game continues to be a great advert for whatever is on terrestrial television at this time of a Thursday night. Braga’s attempts to build an attack are making Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey look positively Bafta-worthy.
31 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Forest free-kick after Gibbs-White is fouled. Niakate threw himself to the ground in a show of dissent; the defender needs to be careful on a booking. The referee has a word for him.
27 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Braga cannot progress the ball beyond the halfway line at the moment. They are passing back to their goalkeeper, who is kicking long straight into Milenkovic and Morato who are dominating in the air.
25 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Douglas Luiz has been linked for a loan move to Chelsea today, and at the moment he is trotting around midfield at barely a snail’s pace. Forest not really generating any momentum so far, the game is just drifting.
21 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
All of Braga’s possession has been in front of Forest who have held them at arm’s length with ease. Forest have not exactly been more incisive when they have the ball, though. The wet conditions may be playing a part in what is, so far, a dreadful game of football.
17 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Decent cross from Savona whipped across the face of goal, but Ndoye could not keep up with play and was not there for the tap-in the middle. Centre-forward has been a thorny position for Forest this season, especially so with Igor Jesus absent.
15 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Braga’s home is a peculiar stadium, with no ends behind the goals, and so far it has been a flat atmosphere. The game is being played like a pre-season friendly. Over on the far side there are swathes of empty grey seats. Around 12,000 fans are supposed to be there, and I reckon a fair chunk of those are Forest.
10 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Gibbs-White took the free-kick, up and over the wall, but Braga’s goalkeeper Hornicek pushed the ball away from the top corner. Well-placed by Gibbs-White but not quite enough power on it.
8 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Braga seeing most of the ball so far, but a giveaway from Horta in midfield presents Gibbs-White with the chance to run at the Braga defence. Niakate brings hip down just outside the D and picks up a booking for his trouble.
5 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
Gabi Martinez is Braga’s main threat from their left flank, and he is testing Savona in the early minutes. Corner to Braga after some Savona defending, and Forest deal with it.
2 minutes: Braga 0 Forest 0
The rain is pelting down in Portugal thanks to Storm Ingrid, but the pitch looks to be moving across the pitch without too many problems. An early Bakwa cross from the left for Forest has been headed away.
KICK OFF!
Forest get the game under way. This is of course the European venue with a rocky outcrop behind the goal.
The two teams are out
Braga play in a red and white kit which is very similar to Forest’s, so Dyche’s team are in their stranged strip.
Team news
Braga: Hornicek, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Gomez, Grillitsch, Gorby, Martinez, Rodrigues, Ricardo Horta, Navarro.
Subs: Tiago Sa, Bellarouch, Lelo, Carvalho, Joao Moutinho, Paulo Oliveira, Gabriel Moscardo, Victor, Dorgeles, da Rocha, Aragao, Vidigal.
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Aina, Bakwa, Yates, Douglas Luiz, McAtee, Ndoye, Gibbs-White.
Subs: Gunn, Willows, Williams, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Anderson, Dominguez, Abbott, Whitehall, Thompson, Sinclair, Hammond.
Referee: Igor Pajac (Croatia)
Match preview
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche is looking to avoid a potential Europa League play-off and hopes a win over Braga will take them one step closer to automatic qualification.
Forest have won three out of their last four matches in this competition which has put them in a realistic position of qualifying without the need of a play-off, and victory on Thursday will put them inside the top-eight positions with a game remaining.
Forest will take confidence into the game after they were able to get a draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal at the weekend.
The Portuguese outfit have won four of their last six matches and currently sit above Dyche’s side in the standings and will prove a tough side to beat at Estadio Municipal.
Dyche told a press conference: “Braga are a very impressive team and so is their coach [Carlos Vicens], who worked with Pep Guardiola.
“We are prepared with our mentality and we are organised and ready to win. I know Braga can change that style of play depending on how the match goes.
“Ideally, we want to go through automatically, but it’s complicated. We have to maintain this momentum and the objective is to win tomorrow.
“We know it’s a challenging place to come and they are going well in the Europa League.
“We don’t take any game for granted and are taking it very seriously.”
Dyche was dealt with some big injury news ahead of the tie and striker Igor Jesus may miss tonight’s game after he sustained a knock.
Should Thiago miss out, it would leave Dyche with a bit of a headache up the top end of the pitch with Chris Wood sidelined, Taiwo Awoniyi not in the Europa League squad and Arnaud Kalimuendo unavailable, having moved on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Full team news on the way shortly.
Category: General Sports
