FC Utrecht will be eyeing their first win of the UEFA Europa League campaign when they host Nottingham Forest on Thursday night.
Both FC Utrecht and Nottingham Forest will be looking to return to winning ways after domestic setbacks on the weekend. While the Tricky Trees will look to strengthen their case for Last 16 qualification, the Dutch outfit will look to keep their hopes of qualification alive.
The home team have endured a very disappointing European campaign so far. They have failed to win any of their first five outings and are 32nd on the table with only one point to their name. Utrecht have been winless in their last four outings across competitions, including a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Betis in the Europa League.
Their last league outing against Twente ended in a 1-1 draw. Given the kind of form they have been in, the Dutch outfit might struggle against Nottingham Forest, who, despite their struggles in the Premier League, have done a decent job in Europe.
The Tricky Trees are 16th in the Europa League table with eight points in their five outings. While the Premier League club did not have the best of starts, they have been unbeaten in their last three European outings, winning two of those fixtures.
Nottingham Forest scripted a 3-0 win over Malmo in their last European outing, but they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Everton in the Premier League. Sean Dyche’s men will be eager to return to winning ways, and they do have enough quality to trouble Utrecht. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
FC Utrecht
The home team will be without the services of Davy van den Berg. Apart from the 25-year-old midfielder, everyone else should be available for selection.
FC Utrecht will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Vasilis Barkas will be in goal. Siebe Horemans and Souffian El Karouani will feature as the full-backs, while Mike van der Hoorn will partner with Nick Viergever in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Can Bozdogan will start alongside Tim Engwanda Ongena and Dani de Wit in the centre of the park. The trio will look to ensure the Nottingham Forest midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Miguel Rodriguez and Yoann Cathline will feature out wide on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Finally, David Min will lead the line for FC Utrecht against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Barkas; Horemans, Van de Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Bozdogan, Ongena, De Wit; Rodriguez, Min, Cathline
Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche will be without the services of Angus Gunn, Ola Aina, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz, Dilane Bakwa, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Chris Wood for this fixture. Ryan Yates has joined them on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury last time out. Meanwhile, Murillo, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue, is a major doubt for this fixture.
The visitors will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where John Victor will be in goal. Zach Abbott and Neco Williams are expected to be the full-backs, while Morato should pair up with Nikola Milenkovic in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Nicolas Dominguez will pair up with Ibrahim Sangare in the double pivot in the middle of the pitch. The duo will shield the backline and try to ensure that they have the majority of the ball.
Dan Ndoye and Callum Hudson-Odoi should feature on the flanks, while James McAtee should take up the number ten role behind Arnaud Kalimuendo, who will spearhead the Nottingham Forest attack against FC Utrecht on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Victor; Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Dominguez, Sangare; Ndoye, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi; Kalimuendo
Key Stats
- Both Nottingham Forest and FC Utrecht are heading into this fixture on the back of disappointment in their respective domestic league.
- FC Utrecht have failed to win any of their five Europa League fixtures this season.
- The Tricky Trees have only won two out of their last 11 away games across competitions.
- Nottingham Forest, who are competing in Europe for the first time in 30 years, have done a decent job winning two, drawing two and losing one out of their five games.
- Nottingham Forest have won three out of their last four outings against Dutch opposition.
Player to Watch
Callum Hudson-Odoi
While the 25-year-old has been on fire at times this season, he has not been consistent enough and only has one goal in his 19 outings. Despite starting four out of their five UEFA Europa League outings, the former Chelsea winger has nothing to show for excursions.
Hudson-Odoi will be eager to get his name on the score sheet and help his team claim important three points. While he has struggled for consistency, the English winger has the pace and ability to trouble the Dutch club’s defence.
Prediction
FC Utrecht 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will fancy their chances of securing another important European victory when they travel to face a struggling FC Utrecht side on Thursday. The hosts are still searching for their first win of the campaign and head into the fixture on the back of a disappointing run domestically, with confidence and momentum both in short supply.
The visitors, meanwhile, have looked far more assured in Europe than in the Premier League and will be eager to bounce back from their weekend setback. With Utrecht offering little cutting edge in the final third and Nottingham Forest possessing far greater quality across the pitch, the visitors should have enough to get the job done. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the away team.
