Nottingham Forest advances to Europa League Round of 16 after losing to Fenerbahçe on Feb 26, 2026

Nottingham Forest lost 2-1 to Fenerbahçe on February 26, 2026, but still advanced to the next round of the Europa League.
By Newsroom | Sports, Football |

Nottingham Forest has secured a place in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. This follows a 2-1 defeat against Fenerbahçe in the second leg of their knockout round playoff tie on February 26, 2026. Despite trailing in the match, Forest's aggregate lead from the first leg was sufficient to progress. The home crowd at The City Ground expressed displeasure with their team's performance during the match.

Match Overview

The second leg, held at The City Ground in Nottingham, saw Fenerbahçe take an early lead. Kerem Aktürkoglu scored a penalty in the 22nd minute, which was later doubled by another successful penalty from Aktürkoglu in the 48th minute.

  • Fenerbahçe's goals came from two penalties converted by Kerem Aktürkoglu on the 22nd and 48th minutes.

  • Despite the loss on the night, Nottingham Forest had secured a significant advantage in the first leg of this tie, held on February 19, 2026, in Istanbul.

  • The overall aggregate score indicates Nottingham Forest's advancement.

Performance and Crowd Reaction

The atmosphere at The City Ground appeared tense. Reports from the match suggest that Nottingham Forest players were booed off at halftime, indicating a disappointing performance in front of their home supporters.

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Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce: Europa League knockout round playoff, second leg – live - 1

  • The team's performance was described as poor, with the players appearing jittery.

  • Lorenzo Lucca, a January signing, was specifically mentioned as having a difficult night.

  • There was a perceived need for the return of Chris Wood to bolster the home team's attack.

Fenerbahçe's Efforts

Fenerbahçe played with a clear objective to overcome the deficit from the first leg. Their efforts were rewarded with two goals, demonstrating a strong intent to challenge for progression in the competition.

  • The Turkish side successfully converted two penalty opportunities.

  • Kerem Aktürkoglu was the central figure in Fenerbahçe's scoring.

Evidence Summary

The match details confirm that Fenerbahçe defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the second leg. Key events include:

EventMinuteTeamPlayerResultCompetition
Penalty Goal22'FenerbahçeKerem Aktürkoglu0-1Europa League Knockout Playoff
Penalty Goal48'FenerbahçeKerem Aktürkoglu0-2Europa League Knockout Playoff
Goal2026Nottingham Forest(Not specified)1-2Europa League Knockout Playoff

Note: One goal for Nottingham Forest is mentioned in the summaries but the scorer and exact minute are not consistently detailed across all provided sources. Article 4 shows an "Attack Momentum" of 3-1 favoring N. Forest, suggesting they scored.

Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce: Europa League knockout round playoff, second leg – live - 2

Progression to the Next Round

Despite the second-leg defeat, Nottingham Forest's victory in the first leg allowed them to advance.

  • The aggregate score determined the overall winner of the tie.

  • Nottingham Forest will proceed to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

Expert Analysis

Information regarding specific expert analysis or commentary on the tactical aspects of the match, player performances beyond general descriptions, or definitive statements on the implications for either club beyond the immediate competition outcome, is not available in the provided data.

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Conclusion and Next Steps

Nottingham Forest has successfully navigated the Europa League knockout playoff round, progressing to the Round of 16. The team's performance in the second leg against Fenerbahçe was met with fan disapproval, highlighting areas for improvement. Fenerbahçe demonstrated resilience in securing a victory on the night.

  • Key Finding: Nottingham Forest secured progression to the Round of 16.

  • Performance Note: A disappointing home performance by Nottingham Forest was observed.

  • Next Steps: Nottingham Forest will prepare for their Round of 16 fixture in the Europa League. The specifics of Fenerbahçe's next steps are not detailed in the provided information.

Sources Used:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did Nottingham Forest win their Europa League match against Fenerbahçe on February 26, 2026?
Nottingham Forest lost the second match against Fenerbahçe with a score of 2-1. However, they had a better score from the first match, so they still move to the next round.
Q: How did Nottingham Forest get to the Europa League Round of 16 if they lost to Fenerbahçe?
Nottingham Forest won the first game against Fenerbahçe. Even though they lost the second game 2-1 on February 26, 2026, their total score over both games was higher, so they advanced.
Q: What was the score of the Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe game on February 26, 2026?
Fenerbahçe beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the game on February 26, 2026. Both goals for Fenerbahçe were from penalties scored by Kerem Aktürkoglu.
Q: Why did the crowd at The City Ground seem unhappy during the Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe match on February 26, 2026?
The fans at The City Ground were unhappy because Nottingham Forest was playing poorly. Players were booed at half-time, and some fans felt the team needed a player like Chris Wood back.
Q: Who scored for Fenerbahçe against Nottingham Forest on February 26, 2026?
Kerem Aktürkoglu scored both goals for Fenerbahçe against Nottingham Forest on February 26, 2026. Both goals were from penalties in the 22nd and 48th minutes.