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Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest: Results, Stats & Live Updates

James Morgan Davies • 2026-04-20 • Reviewed by Ethan Collins

Two European clubs with very different recent trajectories collided in the Europa League knockout stage. Fenerbahçe came in as slight favourites despite Nottingham Forest’s dominant Premier League form, and the tie delivered drama across both legs. Forest ultimately held their nerve, advancing 4-2 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 2-1 at the City Ground.

Aggregate Score: 4-2 Nottingham Forest · Latest Result: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Fenerbahçe · Date: 26 Feb 2026 · Competition: Europa League · Fenerbahçe Possession: 56.7%

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact first-leg goal scorers beyond 0-3
  • Full lineups and substitutions
  • Detailed VAR incidents
3Timeline signal
4What happens next
  • Forest face Round of 16 opponents
  • Fenerbahçe turn focus to Süper Lig
Field Value
Competition Europa League
Aggregate Nottingham Forest 4-2
Latest Score 1-2
Date 26 Feb 2026
Scorers Kerem Aktürkoğlu double

Fenerbahçe vs Nottingham Forest prediction

Pre-match predictions split opinion heading into the two-legged tie. Sports Mole gave Fenerbahçe a 55.74% win probability against Forest’s 21.65% ahead of the first leg, based on squad depth and home advantage metrics. That contrasted sharply with Squawka’s assessment for the second leg, which placed Forest at 8/1 odds (57% implied) citing their prior 3-0 victory and impressive 18.9 shots-per-game average in European competition.

The form contrast was stark. FootyStats recorded Forest at 1.89 points per game (PPG) versus Fenerbahçe’s 1.33 PPG entering the second leg. Squawka’s preview also highlighted Forest’s clinical finishing—they had netted 18 goals from an expected goals (xG) of 18.49 in Europa League play, suggesting their attack was operating at peak efficiency.

Expert predictions

Squawka’s analysis leaned toward Forest despite the first-leg deficit, noting the side had averaged 18.9 shots per game and created 44 clear-cut chances combined with Fenerbahçe across the season. Forebet, using algorithmic modelling, predicted a 1-1 draw for the first leg, highlighting the defensive solidity both sides typically deployed in European competition.

Key factors

Three factors shaped pre-match expectations: Forest’s superior domestic form (1.89 PPG vs 1.33), their proven Europa League scoring rate (18 goals from 18.49 xG), and Fenerbahçe’s mixed away record in European competition. Squawka’s data showed both teams averaged high shot volumes, suggesting the tie would likely produce goals.

Why this matters

Predictions underestimated Forest’s resilience. Despite losing the second leg 2-1, the first-leg 3-0 advantage proved decisive—a reminder that away goals math and aggregate arithmetic often override form-based forecasting in knockout football.

Fenerbahçe vs Nottingham Forest live

Fans seeking live coverage had multiple options across the two legs. The second leg kicked off at 20:00 UTC on February 26, 2026, at the City Ground, where 26,883 supporters attended according to Sky Sports records. Live score platforms including Sofascore provided real-time updates on goal timings, possession percentages, and shot counts throughout both matches.

The first leg on February 19, 2026, saw Forest establish their commanding position with a 3-0 victory at Fenerbahçe’s stadium. FotMob’s match data tracked the xG progression and chance quality throughout both encounters, giving viewers a granular picture of how each side controlled proceedings.

Live stream options

Broadcast availability varied by region. Sky Sports provided detailed match statistics for the second leg, including player ratings, passing networks, and defensive actions. Sofascore’s live feed covered goal timestamps down to the minute, allowing fans to track Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s brace (22′, 48′ penalty) and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s decisive 68th-minute strike in real time.

Match updates

SportyTrader confirmed the second-leg result as Nottingham Forest 1-2 Fenerbahçe across multiple sources, providing cross-verification for fans tracking scorelines. The half-time score of 0-1 to Fenerbahçe, as recorded by FootyStats, showed the visitors were ahead at the break before Forest’s second-leg fightback ultimately fell short on aggregate.

Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe results

The two-legged tie produced a decisive outcome despite Fenerbahçe’s second-leg rally. Forest won the first leg 3-0 on February 19, 2026, at WhoScored’s recorded venue, establishing a margin that proved unassailable. Fenerbahçe responded with a 2-1 victory in the return fixture on February 26, but it was not enough to overturn the aggregate deficit.

Sofascore’s records show the aggregate finished 4-2 in Forest’s favour, sending the English side through to the Europa League Round of 16. This marks the first ever Europa League meeting between the clubs, with UEFA’s official H2H database confirming no prior encounters in the competition.

Recent results

The full timeline shows Forest’s dominance across both legs: a 3-0 first-leg win followed by a 2-1 defeat that, while not altering the aggregate, demonstrated Fenerbahçe’s quality. Forest’s result sheet also included a 0-1 Premier League loss to Liverpool on February 22, 2026, underscoring the pressure their squad faced across competitions.

Aggregate score

The 4-2 aggregate victory reflected Forest’s superiority in the first leg. Their 3-0 advantage gave them a two-goal buffer heading into the away fixture, and despite conceding twice through Aktürkoğlu’s double, Forest’s 68th-minute strike through Hudson-Odoi proved sufficient to maintain their aggregate lead. FotMob’s match summary noted the result was ultimately decided by events in the opening leg.

The implication

For Fenerbahçe, the tie exposed a familiar European roadblock: they could compete in one-off fixtures but struggled to overturn multi-game deficits. Forest’s first-leg dominance—converting chances at will while keeping a structured defensive shape—proved the difference between a side building European pedigree and one that has already achieved it.

Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe stats

Advanced metrics from the second leg reveal an intriguing performance split. According to FotMob, Fenerbahçe dominated possession at 56.7% and created the better chances with 1.76 xG, yet scored only twice. Forest, by contrast, managed just 0.99 xG from 54% possession but converted their limited opportunities with greater efficiency on the night.

Shot counts further illustrate the tactical battle. Forest recorded 13 total shots to Fenerbahçe’s 11, with both sides generating 2 big chances according to FotMob’s tracking. Squawka’s pre-match data had shown Forest averaging 18.9 shots per game in Europa League play versus Fenerbahçe’s 15.9, suggesting the English side’s volume-based approach was built into their tactical identity.

Possession and shots

The possession figures flipped the pre-tie script. Fenerbahçe, who had been slight favourites according to Sports Mole’s win probability model, controlled the ball for nearly 57% of the second leg. However, their higher xG (1.76 vs 0.99) was offset by Forest’s clinical finishing when it mattered. The data from FotMob shows how dominance in possession does not automatically translate to aggregate survival in knockout football.

Duels won

FootyStats’ H2H compilation recorded Forest winning 41 duels across the two matches, a figure reflecting their physical edge in midfield battles. Squawka’s preview also noted Forest’s 5 clean sheets and 85.7% passing accuracy entering the second leg, highlighting the defensive discipline that underpinned their aggregate victory despite losing the return fixture.

The stats table below shows how possession and xG diverged across the second leg, with Fenerbahçe controlling the ball but Forest making their limited chances count.

Metric Forest Fenerbahçe
Second-leg possession 46% 54%
Second-leg xG 0.99 1.76
Total shots 13 11
Big chances 2 2
Europa League PPG (pre-tie) 1.89 1.33
Shots per game (season) 18.9 15.9

Fenerbahçe vs Nottm Forest tickets

Ticket information for both legs attracted significant interest from fans across Europe. The second leg at the City Ground drew an attendance of 26,883, with Sofascore confirming the kickoff time of 20:00 UTC on February 26, 2026. Fenerbahçe supporters made the trip to Nottingham in substantial numbers, creating an atmosphere that added to the European occasion.

The first leg in Istanbul, while not detailed in the available sources regarding exact attendance, represented the return fixture where Fenerbahçe sought to overturn the 3-0 deficit. SoccerPunter’s records indicate Fenerbahçe had won 2 away games in the Europa League group stage, suggesting they possessed an organized travel support capable of filling their allocated sections at the City Ground. For those interested in the broader context of European football, you can find Liverpool match updates here. Liverpool match updates

Availability

Demand for the tie reflected its status as a genuine cross-continental matchup. Forest’s City Ground capacity and allocation system meant demand typically outstripped supply for high-profile European fixtures, with season-ticket holders receiving first access before general sale. For the Istanbul leg, Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium provides one of Turkish football’s most hostile environments, a factor that may have influenced the first-leg result.

Istanbul matches

The Istanbul fixture on February 19, 2026, saw Fenerbahçe host at their historic Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Despite the 3-0 defeat, the home atmosphere did not prevent Forest from executing their game plan effectively. Future European meetings between the clubs, should they occur, would likely again feature Istanbul as a venue given Fenerbahçe’s consistent Europa League participation.

The trade-off

European knockout ties force clubs into logistical juggling—ticket allocations, away fan coordination, and scheduling conflicts with domestic leagues. Forest’s midweek date with Liverpool (February 22) came just four days after the first leg, a congestion that tested squad depth and may have influenced managerial decisions heading into the return fixture.

Timeline of clashes

The timeline reveals how Forest established their aggregate advantage early and held firm under pressure. February 19, 2026 saw Forest claim a comprehensive 3-0 first-leg victory, a result that WhoScored recorded at Fenerbahçe’s stadium. That result effectively decided the tie’s trajectory before the return fixture, though Fenerbahçe’s 2-1 second-leg win ensured the aggregate margin was respectable.

A domestic distraction came between the legs: Forest’s 0-1 Premier League loss to Liverpool on February 22, 2026, as confirmed by Sky Sports. That result, while not affecting the European tie, showed Forest had limited recovery time between high-stakes fixtures—a pattern common for clubs balancing domestic and continental commitments.

February 26, 2026 marked the decisive return. Sofascore’s records show kickoff at 20:00 UTC, with Forest ultimately advancing 4-2 on aggregate despite the 2-1 home defeat. Squawka and Sports Mole had issued their predictions in early February 2026, providing pre-match probabilities that contrast with the actual outcome—a reminder that knockout football often defies statistical modelling.

Confirmed

  • Forest won aggregate 4-2
  • Aktürkoğlu scored both Fenerbahçe goals (22′, 48′ pen)
  • Hudson-Odoi scored Forest’s 68th-minute goal
  • 26,883 attendance at City Ground
  • First ever Europa League meeting

Unclear

  • Exact first-leg goal scorers
  • Full match lineups and substitutions
  • VAR incidents during either leg
  • Future Fenerbahçe opponents in European competition

What the managers said

Forest had to hold their nerve against Fenerbahçe, but ultimately did enough to reach the Europa League round of 16.

FotMob Match Summary

Forest has netted 18 goals from an expected goals (xG) of 18.49, demonstrating their finishing prowess.

Squawka Preview Analysis

Forest’s progression past Fenerbahçe carries immediate implications for both clubs. Forest advance to face Round of 16 opponents, extending their Europa League campaign deeper into spring—a feat that seemed improbable when the draw paired them with a historically strong Turkish side. Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, exit European competition with a respectable aggregate margin (4-2) but no actual path to the next round, forcing a refocus on domestic ambitions in the Süper Lig.

Related reading: Athletic Club vs Man United · Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Timeline

Contrary to rumors of a July 2024 preseason friendly in Vienna, facts on the 2026 Europa League clash confirm no such fixture ever materialized between the clubs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the head-to-head history between Fenerbahçe and Nottingham Forest?

Per UEFA’s official records, the 2025/2026 Europa League knockout play-offs represented the first ever competitive meeting between the clubs in UEFA competitions.

Who advanced in the Europa League?

Nottingham Forest advanced 4-2 on aggregate, winning the first leg 3-0 before losing the return 2-1 at the City Ground on February 26, 2026.

What were the key moments in the last match?

Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored twice for Fenerbahçe (22′, 48′ penalty), while Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 68th-minute goal proved decisive for Forest’s aggregate survival.

Where was the Istanbul leg played?

The first leg took place at Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul on February 19, 2026.

What were the goalkeeper saves stats?

Detailed goalkeeper saves statistics were not prominently reported in available sources for either leg, though FotMob’s xG data implies both goalkeepers faced multiple efforts on target.

What is the possession breakdown?

Fenerbahçe held 54% possession in the second leg (56.7% in some sources) versus Forest’s 46%, with the pattern flipped in the dominant first-leg showing where Forest controlled the run of play.

How did Nottingham Forest advance over Fenerbahçe?

Forest’s 3-0 first-leg advantage proved decisive. Despite losing the return fixture 2-1, Hudson-Odoi’s 68th-minute strike maintained the aggregate gap and confirmed Forest’s passage to the Round of 16.



James Morgan Davies

About the author

James Morgan Davies

Our desk combines breaking updates with clear and practical explainers.