Nottingham Forest reaches Europa League last 16 after losing to Fenerbahce 1-2 at home

Nottingham Forest lost 1-2 at home to Fenerbahce on Feb 26, 2026, but still advanced to the Europa League last 16 with a 4-2 aggregate score.
By Newsroom | Football, Europe |

Nottingham Forest has secured a place in the Europa League's final 16 teams, even after a second-leg defeat against Fenerbahce. The English club managed to withstand a strong challenge from the Turkish side to advance on aggregate.

Hudson-Odoi sends Nottingham Forest into last 16 despite home defeat by Fenerbahce - 1

Match Progression

Fenerbahce scored twice in the second leg, with Kerem Akturkoglu finding the net on both occasions. His goals offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors, who were trailing by a significant margin from the first leg. However, a crucial strike from Nottingham Forest substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi in the latter half of the match effectively ended Fenerbahce's comeback aspirations.

Hudson-Odoi sends Nottingham Forest into last 16 despite home defeat by Fenerbahce - 2

Despite the defeat on the night, Nottingham Forest ultimately won the tie with a 4-2 aggregate score. This marks their progression to the next stage of the competition.

Hudson-Odoi sends Nottingham Forest into last 16 despite home defeat by Fenerbahce - 3

Key Moments and Performances

Fenerbahce's initial advantage in the second leg came from Kerem Akturkoglu, who scored the opener after a swift counter-attack. The Turkish team had earlier been denied a stronger position by Stefan Ortega, the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, who made a key save just before halftime from Sidiki Cherif.

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

Hudson-Odoi sends Nottingham Forest into last 16 despite home defeat by Fenerbahce - 4

  • Fenerbahce's attempts to overturn the deficit included chances for Cherif and Akturkoglu.

  • Nottingham Forest had opportunities to extend their lead, with Jesus and Hutchinson notably shooting directly at the opposing goalkeeper, Tarik Cetin.

  • Callum Hudson-Odoi's goal proved decisive in quelling Fenerbahce's momentum.

Managerial Context

The match was overseen by Vitor Pereira, the new manager of Nottingham Forest. This result follows his arrival at the club. Despite the overall success in advancing, reports indicate that the home fans expressed their displeasure at times during the match, with some booing directed at Pereira. This is notably his second consecutive home loss in charge of Forest.

Performance Analysis

While Nottingham Forest held a substantial 3-0 lead from the first leg in Istanbul, the second leg proved to be a more challenging affair. Fenerbahce's performance suggested a determined effort to overturn the first-leg deficit.

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  • Fenerbahce's scoring:

  • Kerem Akturkoglu (penalty) after halftime.

  • Kerem Akturkoglu (opener).

  • Nottingham Forest's response:

  • Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the vital goal.

The aggregate scoreline of 4-2 reflects the overall superiority of Nottingham Forest across both matches, despite a nervy second-leg performance.

Expert Insight

The reports suggest that Nottingham Forest survived a significant scare from Fenerbahce. The initial three-goal advantage from the first leg was crucial in absorbing the pressure applied by the visiting team in the second leg.

Next Steps

With this victory, Nottingham Forest advances to the Europa League's last 16. They will participate in the draw for the next round, where they could face teams such as Real Betis or FC Midtjylland. The draw is scheduled for February 27th, 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did Nottingham Forest win their Europa League match against Fenerbahce on February 26, 2026?
Nottingham Forest lost the second match against Fenerbahce 1-2 at home on February 26, 2026. However, they advanced to the Europa League last 16 because they won the first match by a bigger score.
Q: What was the final score between Nottingham Forest and Fenerbahce on February 26, 2026?
The score on February 26, 2026, was Nottingham Forest 1, Fenerbahce 2. The total score over both games was 4-2 to Nottingham Forest.
Q: Who scored for Nottingham Forest in the match against Fenerbahce on February 26, 2026?
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the only goal for Nottingham Forest in the second leg against Fenerbahce on February 26, 2026. This goal was important to stop Fenerbahce from coming back.
Q: Who scored for Fenerbahce in their match against Nottingham Forest on February 26, 2026?
Kerem Akturkoglu scored both goals for Fenerbahce in their 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest on February 26, 2026. He scored after halftime and also scored the first goal.
Q: What does Nottingham Forest's win mean for the Europa League on February 26, 2026?
Nottingham Forest has reached the last 16 of the Europa League. They will be in the draw for the next round, which will happen on February 27, 2026.